# lucifer

/ˈɫusəfɝ/ (US) · /lˈuːsɪfɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lucifer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the Devil

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a name used for the Devil or Satan in Christian stories.

For teachers: the name of the fallen angel often identified with Satan in Christian theology and literature.

- In the old story, Lucifer was an angel who fell from heaven.
- Milton's epic poem depicts Lucifer as a complex, tragic figure who leads a rebellion against divine authority.

### 2. the morning star

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a name for the planet Venus when it is seen in the sky before sunrise.

For teachers: the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star. Derived from the Latin for 'light-bringer'.

- The poet looked up at the fading light of Lucifer in the early morning sky.
- Ancient astronomers referred to the planet as Lucifer when it heralded the dawn, unaware it was the same celestial body they called Hesperus in the evening.

### 3. a friction match

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

an old word for a match used to start a fire.

For teachers: an early type of friction match, typically made of wood tipped with a combustible chemical mixture.

- He struck a lucifer against the wall to light his pipe.
- The Victorian explorer fumbled in his pocket for a box of lucifers, desperate to provide some illumination in the damp cavern.

## Examples

- The morning star, also called Lucifer, shone brightly at dawn.
- In early astronomical texts, Lucifer was the name given to the celestial body that heralded the coming day.
- The poet used the name Lucifer to evoke both the physical beauty of the morning star and the tragic fall of the biblical figure from grace.

---

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.