Lucifer

noun

Lu·​ci·​fer ˈlü-sə-fər How to pronounce Lucifer (audio)
1
used as a name of the devil
2
: the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star
3
not capitalized : a friction match having as active substances antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate
Luciferian adjective

Examples of Lucifer in a Sentence

Lucifer is depicted as a powerful but proud angel who leads a revolt against heaven.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other series stars include Boyd Holbrook as Corinthian, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven, David Thewlis as John Dee, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, among others. Denise Petski, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025 The actor's other screen credits include Lucifer, the Cheaper by the Dozen films, Parkland, and Draft Day. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025 Welling is also known for his roles in Cheaper by the Dozen, Lucifer, Draft Day and more. Esther Kang, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025 In Germany, one couple was recently forbidden from naming their newborn Lucifer, according to U.K. newspaper The Times. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025 At various points in the third-person action-adventure, the fabric of Indika’s reality is ripped apart, the game’s geometry morphing, transmuting, and reconfiguring itself, all while Lucifer chatters incessantly in her ear. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024 Before Marianne Boesky Gallery, Lucifer Lighting collaborated with Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Berry Campbell Gallery, underscoring the need for exquisite lighting to magnify great art. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Luther, who has the sinister authority of a mild-mannered Lucifer in a wrinkled suit, makes to leave out of respect for Veronica’s wishes. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024 Besides playing an avuncular Lucifer on his 30-year-old concept album, Newman performed the role live just once, at a 2014 concert production put on by Encores at City Center in New York. Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "the morning star, a fallen rebel archangel, the Devil," going back to Old English, borrowed from Latin Lūcifer "morning star," noun derivative of lūcifer "light-bringing, light-bearing," from lūc-, lūx "light" + -i- -i- + -fer -fer — more at light entry 1

Note: In patristic Latin Lūcifer was taken to be a name for the Devil of Christianity, based on the use of the word in the Vulgate rendering of Isaiah 14:12, where it translates Hebrew hêlēl, taken to mean "the shining one."

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Lucifer was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Lucifer

Cite this Entry

“Lucifer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lucifer. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

Lucifer

noun
Lu·​ci·​fer ˈlü-sə-fər How to pronounce Lucifer (audio)
Etymology

Old English Lucifer "the morning star, a fallen angel, the Devil," from Latin Lucifer "the morning star, bearer of light," derived from luc-, lux "light" and -fer "bearing"

Word Origin
What we sometimes call "the morning star" is really the planet Venus. The Romans called it Lucifer, meaning "bearer of light," because it appeared in the sky just before sunrise. So when, in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah says, in describing the downfall of the king of Babylon, "How are you fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of dawn," the "Morning Star" became Lucifer in the Latin translation. Early Christians thought that Isaiah was also referring to the devil, who had likewise "fallen from heaven." Thus the word Lucifer came to be applied to the devil.

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