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

The typesetter in me loves the Japanese rubber-stamp set ($147), possibly drawn by hand in a serif font similar to Cheltenham Condensed, sold by Wms & Co. — Nicholas Blechman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026

Like, don’t make a sans-serif logo like everyone else, please keep some character in the brand image. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 12 Aug. 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

The overseas restaurant has a similar green logo with serif font. — Kansas City Star, 1 June 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