font

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈfänt 

1

a

: a receptacle for baptismal water

b

: a receptacle for holy water

c

: a receptacle for various liquids

2

: source, fountain

a font of information

fontal

ˈfän-tᵊl 

adjective

font

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an assortment or set of type or characters all of one style and sometimes one size

Synonyms of font

Noun (1)

• source
• origin
• fountain
• cradle

Examples of font in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a domestic diva who is a seemingly endless font of new ideas

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unwanted babies could be placed in an empty holy-water font beneath the Innocenti’s arches, at no cost or risk of legal censure. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025

Enter Bernie Corbett, a third generation BU Terrier (1983 grad and student team manager), voice of BU hockey for the past 41 years, font of knowledge and great raconteur of the local sports scene. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025

The sui generis nature of Japanese culture, practices and lifestyle continue to be a font of inspiration for directors in the region. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

The rebrand involved a new font for the Rosewood wordmark, a new signature color shade called discovery green, and a new RW monogram logo. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin font-, fons, from Latin, fountain

Noun (2)

French fonte, from Middle French, act of founding, from Vulgar Latin *fundita, feminine of funditus, past participle of Latin fundere to found, pour — more at found

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1664, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing font

• proportional font/typeface

Rhymes for font

• daunt
• flaunt
• gaunt
• haunt
• jaunt
• pont
• taunt
• vaunt
• want
• avant
• croissant
• detente

Kids Definition

font

1 of 2 noun

ˈfänt 

1

: a basin for baptismal or holy water

2

: fountain sense 2

font

2 of 2 noun

: an assortment of type or characters all of one size and style

Etymology

Noun

Old English font "basin for holy water," derived from Latin font-, fons "fountain, spring" — related to fountain

Noun

from early French fonte "act of casting metal," derived from Latin fundere "to pour melted metal into a mold" — related to found entry 3, founder entry 2