(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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How could it be that the elf in a button-down shirt now looked like someone’s cool bisexual cousin!
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026
“I was very happy with the results,” said Jung, a 31-year-old influencer, who learned of elf ears when she stumbled across viral videos of others who had the procedure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
“We’re in an elf rally, but we’re on our way to a Santa Claus rally,” said Chris Hyzy of Bank of America Private Bank during an interview Wednesday with CNBC.
From Barron's ● Dec. 4, 2025
Vitale’s elaborate Santa costume, including his 130-year-old strand of brass sleigh bells and hand-carved belt, were all destroyed in the fire, along with LaCasella’s handmade green-and-red felt elf shoes and vest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2025
Even if Alfhercht could hear what Ilya said, she knew the elf would never allow his brother to be taken into the city, let alone the castle.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
Beauty’s ELF -3.66%decrease; red down pointing triangle guidance for the year disappointed Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Beauty ELF -0.39%decrease; red down pointing triangle tanked after the beauty company issued guidance for the year below Wall Street’s expectations, as uncertainty swirls around the American consumer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
So the federal government went to work pursuing ELF members with alacrity, heaping sentence-lengthening terrorism enhancements on members to the point that, by 2006, the group basically ceased to exist.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
William Rodgers, who was a particularly outspoken and influential member of the group, decided the ELF needed to scale up.
From New York Times ● May 26, 2022
"Out of eleven wells," says gentle Dulness, "EILF or ELF QUELLEN, whence its name, Elbe for ELF."
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 15 by Thomas Carlyle
According to Domnauer, approximately 90% of those experiencing the visions describe figures resembling elves, clowns, or other fairy-like characters, often wearing brightly colored clothing.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
“They are literally magical elves and they make this happen.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
The family only realised there had been a mix-up when he appeared with classmates dressed as elves, Jade said.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025
Brownies at that time was a strange organization in which the girls were divided into groups named after different kinds of fairies—pixies, elves and gnomes were the groups in our outfit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025
She had never longed for a magic wand, did not expect to marry a prince, and was scornful—most of the time—of her grandmother’s elves.
From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit
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