(in folklore) one of a class of preternatural beings, especially from mountainous regions, with magical powers, given to capricious and often mischievous interference in human affairs, and usually imagined to be a diminutive being in human form; sprite; fairy.
a diminutive person, especially a child.
a mischievous person, especially a child.
(in folklore) one of a kind of legendary beings, usually characterized as small, manlike, and mischievous
a mischievous or whimsical child
Plural word for elf The plural form of elf is elves, pronounced [ elvz ]. The plurals of some other singular words that end -f are also formed in this way, including leaf/leaves, wife/wives, and knife/knives. A similar change is made when pluralizing hoof as hooves. Irregular plurals that are formed like elves derive directly from their original pluralization in Old English.
See fairy.
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, from Old English ælf, elf, ylf, akin to Old High German alp “incubus” ( Middle High German alp , German Alp “nightmare”), Old Norse álfr, Danish alf “elf” ælfen; see elfin
An elf is a mythological creature that's said to be tiny, magical, and a little mischievous. Elves are not just known for giving Santa a hand. In fact, ancient Anglo-Saxon medical books ascribed some illnesses to elves. Old English texts often blamed elves for sharp pains and mental disturbances — they were said to cause illness with sharp weapons, such as arrows. The folklore and myths of Scotland, Iceland, and Germany are particularly famous for the inclusion of elves. An elf's tiny size has also led to the use of elfin or elf-like to describe a small person's features: "His little elfin nose was so cute."
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Elf ears first emerged about five years ago when an influencer in China posted about undergoing surgery to have more prominent, pointy ears.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Elf ears are suddenly a coveted look in beauty-obsessed South Korea, where residents seem to be on a never-ending quest for cosmetic improvements.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
He has previously impressed audiences with his Elf show in 2023 and Home Alone in 2024, but this year he will need a lot longer in the makeup chair.
From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025
Elf Beauty Inc. late Wednesday touted a “record-breaking” launch of its Rhode brand at Sephora stores in North America and market-share wins, but that wasn’t nearly enough for the stock.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 5, 2025
Frodo looked up at the Elf standing tall above him, as he gazed into the night, seeking a mark to shoot at.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
