serif

noun

ser·​if ˈser-əf 

: any of the short lines stemming from and at an angle to the upper and lower ends of the strokes of a letter

serifed adjective

or seriffed

ˈser-əft 

Illustration of serif

• 1 serif

Examples of serif in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eventually, website-building services such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix offered templates that became popular clichés of their own (think of sans-serif text over full-bleed splash images). — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 June 2026

The details of the card are written in a cursive that flows against the less elastic serifs of the demographic data questions. — Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

Gowns and slippers come with blue trims and the curving serif font of The Twenty Two’s quietly cool branding. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026

The suit included some versions of Indiana’s trademark work, LOVE, which depicts the word love in lively serif characters, the LO situated atop the VE, with the O placed at an angle. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from Dutch schreef stroke, line, from Middle Dutch, from schriven to write, from Latin scribere — more at scribe

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing serif

• sans serif

Rhymes for serif

• belief
• broadleaf
• debrief
• flyleaf
• khalif
• kharif
• longleaf
• massif
• motif
• relief
• saif
• beef

Kids Definition

serif

noun

ser·​if ˈser-əf 

: any of the short lines crossing the upper and lower ends of the strokes of a printed letter