sans-serif

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Describing a style of printing type whose letters have no small decorative strokes at the ends of their lines.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a sans-serif font. It is not normally used after a verb.

   Patterns

   • a sans-serif font
   • sans-serif type
   • sans-serif lettering

   The designer chose a sans-serif font for the headings.

   Sans-serif text often looks cleaner on a phone screen.

   Please use a sans-serif typeface for the poster.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A typeface or font that has no small decorative strokes at the ends of its letters.

   Grammar: Countable: one sans-serif, several sans-serifs. Often written with a hyphen.

   Patterns

   • use a sans-serif
   • choose a sans-serif
   • a clean sans-serif

   Helvetica is a famous sans-serif.

   The logo uses a bold sans-serif.

   She compared two sans-serifs before deciding.

Word forms

Common combinations

sans-serif font

Pick a sans-serif font for the slides.

sans-serif typeface

The sign uses a simple sans-serif typeface.

bold sans-serif

The title is set in bold sans-serif.

sans-serif lettering

Modern signage often uses sans-serif lettering.

Synonyms and how they differ

grotesque

In typography, 'grotesque' is a specialist term for certain early sans-serif designs; it is narrower and more technical than sans-serif.

gothic

In American printing, 'gothic' can mean sans-serif, but in everyday use it means a medieval style, so it can confuse.

Opposites

Word family

serif noun

A small decorative stroke at the end of a letter's line.

typeface noun

A particular design of letters and symbols.

Commonly confused: sans-serif or serif? sans-serif or font?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sans-serif”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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