What does "serif" mean?
A short line added to the end of a stroke in traditional typefaces, such as Times New Roman.
Serif
/ˈsɛɹɪf/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short line added to the end of a stroke in traditional typefaces, such as Times New Roman.
- Grammar: serif is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: seriph.
- Useful contrasts: montserrat, sans serif typeface, sans serif upright.
- Usage evidence: In a sans-serif font, skewing a word or phrase can create the appearance of italics, even when a real italic font is not available. The technique is less successful with serif fonts because the design of the roman letter "a" or "g", for example, usually differs from its italic version.
How to use "serif"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "serif" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "serif" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "serif" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "serif" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "serif" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "seriph" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "serif", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short line added to the end of a stroke in traditional typefaces, such as Times New Roman.
"It is generally believed, by those who study such things, that serif typefaces are easier to read when reading a lot of words. The hickeys (serifs) on each letter tend to push our eye toward the next letter."
- 2 a short line at the end of the main strokes of a character wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of a typeface, provided with serifs. not-comparable
"It is generally believed, by those who study such things, that serif typefaces are easier to read when reading a lot of words. The hickeys (serifs) on each letter tend to push our eye toward the next letter."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In a sans-serif font, skewing a word or phrase can create the appearance of italics, even when a real italic font is not available. The technique is less successful with serif fonts because the design of the roman letter "a" or "g", for example, usually differs from its italic version."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "serif"?
Common synonyms include: seriph.
How do you use "serif" in a sentence?
In a sans-serif font, skewing a word or phrase can create the appearance of italics, even when a real italic font is not available. The technique is less successful with serif fonts because the design of the roman letter "a" or "g", for example, usually differs from its italic version.
How do you pronounce "serif"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛɹɪf/.
Etymology
From earlier ceriph, ceref, of obscure derivation. There are two (not directly interrelated) candidates for a possible Dutch origin: 1.) the noun schreef (“stroke”, now also “serif” as a semantic loan), related with schrapen (“to scrape”); and 2.) the verb schrafferen (“to provide with horizontal lines, to shade”), from Italian sgraffiare. For the latter, compare German Schraffe (“serif”), although this again may be a semantic loan based on the English word rather than original to it. Alternatively, from Late Latin cerificus (“waxen”), from Latin cera (“wax”), after the ruled lines used in writing on wax tablets.