English Reference
Noun

typeface

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈtaɪpˌfeɪs/ UK /tˈaɪpfeɪs/ type·face UK spelling typefaces Printing

n.a specific design for a set of letters and symbols. You use this word when you want to talk about the style of a font, like Times New Roman or Arial.

n.a particular design for a set of type, including all the letters and punctuation marks. It refers to the visual style of a font rather than the font itself.


SIMPLE

The designer chose a modern typeface for the magazine cover.

CONTEXTUAL

While the font is the software used to display the text, the typeface refers to the actual design of the characters.

COMPLEX

The transition from serif to sans-serif typefaces in digital interfaces is often driven by the need for legibility at smaller sizes on high-resolution screens.

Some posters were designed by colleagues with desktop publishing software, cleanly formatted in neat typefaces.

The Guardian· 5 Sept 2026

From type + face.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated