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

Noun (1)

• cradle
• fountain
• fountainhead
• origin
• root
• seedbed
• source
• spring
• well
• wellspring

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

For the first time since 2008, the big-box chain has updated its logo, taking a nod from the font that was inspired by a trucker hat that founder Sam Walton was known to wear. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025

Next to the old-timey fonts used for the game score, the video board showed celebrity guests, including Bill Murray, Jon Hamm and Derrick Rose. —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2025

Bold colors, graphics, fonts, or formats can also be confusing and look unprofessional. —Sho Dewan, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Spoiler alert: No one cares if your PowerPoint font matches your email signature. —Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 17 Dec. 2024

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)

circa 1688, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing font

• proportional font/typeface

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