cherub

noun

cher·​ub ˈcher-əb 

ˈche-rəb

plural cherubs or cherubim ˈcher-ə-ˌbim 

ˈker-

also ˈcher-yə-

1

cherubim plural : an order of angels see celestial hierarchy

2

plural usually cherubs

a

: a beautiful usually winged child in painting and sculpture

b

: an innocent-looking usually chubby and rosy person

This torrent of arcane football lingo spewed from the lips of a red-haired, freckle-faced cherub …

—Tim Layden

cherubic

chə-ˈrü-bik 

also ˈcher-ə-

adjective

cherubically

chə-ˈrü-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

cherublike

ˈcher-əb-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of cherub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bieber had stepped onto a smaller stage, more sharply circular than the first, and two acoustic guitarists came to sit on either side of him, flanking him like twin cherubs attentive at their harps. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026

The oil painting depicts a towering John the Baptist pouring water on the head of an even larger, almost shimmering Jesus; in the background, God, angels and cherubs look down from heaven in an ecstatic frenzy. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026

The hat is the brainchild of Dali; Jean Schlumberger creates cherub pins that will be immortalized in a Picasso portrait. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2026

On Wednesday, Church authorities ordered the face covered and replaced, and crowds of photographers and curious onlookers gathered to watch the new work, which had become for the moment a faceless cherub. —Camilla Alcini, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kĕrūbh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cherub

• carib
• carob

Kids Definition

cherub

noun

cher·​ub ˈcher-əb 

1

: a painting or drawing of a beautiful child usually with wings

2

: a chubby rosy child

cherubic

chə-ˈrü-bik 

adjective