Meaning & use
fallen angel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablereligion
In religious tradition, an angel who rebelled against God and was thrown out of heaven, such as Satan.
Grammar: Countable: a fallen angel, the fallen angels.
Patterns
- a fallen angel in something
In the old story, Lucifer is the most famous fallen angel.
The poem describes the fallen angels in a burning lake.
Many paintings show a fallen angel with dark wings.
nouncountablefigurativeliterary
A person who was once admired or pure but has lost their good name or high position through wrongdoing or failure.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with a sad tone: a fallen angel of the music world.
Patterns
- a fallen angel of something
The press called the disgraced athlete a fallen angel.
She became a fallen angel of the fashion world after the scandal.
He played a fallen angel in the film, a once-honest lawyer who loses everything.
nouncountablefinancespecialist
In finance, a company or bond that used to have a high rating but has dropped to a lower one.
Grammar: Countable: investors bought several fallen angels.
Patterns
- a fallen angel bond
Fund managers search for fallen angels that may recover.
The bond became a fallen angel when the company's rating was cut.
Some investors buy fallen angels at a discount.
Word forms
| plural | fallen angels |
|---|
Common combinations
- like a fallen angel
- He looked like a fallen angel after the long trial.
- the fall of the fallen angels
- The poem begins with the fall of the fallen angels.
- fallen angel bond
- A fallen angel bond pays a higher interest rate.
- portrayed as a fallen angel
- The villain is portrayed as a fallen angel.
- beautiful fallen angel
- The statue shows a beautiful fallen angel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- demon
- Demon is a general evil spirit that may never have been an angel, whereas a fallen angel was once good.
- rebel angel
- Rebel angel stresses the revolt, while fallen angel stresses the loss of status.
- has-been
- Has-been is blunt and informal, simply meaning no longer successful, with no moral or religious note.
- disgraced figure
- Disgraced figure is a neutral phrase for someone who lost reputation, without the religious imagery.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fallen angel or guardian angel?
fallen angel vs guardian angel
A guardian angel protects a person, while a fallen angel is one who rebelled or lost status.
Practice
In a figurative sense, a fallen angel is most likely someone who ___.
Choose one answer.
A fallen angel has dropped from a high, admired position. A person who always lived quietly never had a fall to describe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fallen angel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.