# font

/ˈfɑnt/ (US) · /fˈɒnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/font
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. text style

noun · CEFR B1

a set of letters and numbers that all have the same design and style.

For teachers: a complete set of characters in a specific typeface, style, and weight used in printing or digital display.

- You should use a clear font like Arial for your job application.
- The graphic designer experimented with various serif fonts to find one that conveyed the appropriate level of authority for the law firm's branding.

Usage: In modern digital contexts, 'font' and 'typeface' are often used interchangeably by laypeople.

### 2. church basin

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a large stone bowl in a church that holds water for baptisms.

For teachers: a stone or metal receptacle in a church used to hold holy water, specifically for the rite of baptism.

- The priest stood by the stone font during the baby's baptism.
- The medieval church features an ornate baptismal font carved from a single block of local limestone.

### 3. a source

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a source of something, like knowledge or information.

For teachers: a source or wellspring of a particular quality or type of information.

- My grandfather was a font of wisdom about local history.
- The professor proved to be a font of obscure data, providing the researchers with leads they had previously overlooked.

Teaching tip: In this metaphorical sense, 'fount' is a common alternative spelling in British English.

### 4. to add text to video

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Informal

to put text or titles over a video or television picture.

For teachers: to overlay text, such as titles or captions, onto a video signal or television broadcast.

- The editor needed to font the names of the speakers at the bottom of the screen.
- The production assistant was responsible for fonting the live broadcast with real-time social media updates from the audience.

## Examples

- I think this font is too small to read.
- The graphic designer suggested using a sans-serif font to give the website a more modern and clean appearance.
- While the branding guide specifies a serif font for all printed correspondence, the digital marketing team prefers a more legible typeface for mobile applications.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.