font
1 Americannoun
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a receptacle, usually of stone, as in a baptistery or church, containing the water used in baptism.
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a receptacle for holy water; stoup.
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a productive source.
The book is a font of useful tips for travelers.
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the reservoir for oil in a lamp.
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Archaic. a fountain.
noun
noun
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a large bowl for baptismal water, usually mounted on a pedestal
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a receptacle for holy water
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the reservoir for oil in an oil lamp
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archaic a fountain or well
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of font1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English font, fant, from Latin font-, stem of fōns “baptismal font, spring, fountain”
Origin of font2
First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French fonte, from Vulgar Latin funditus (unrecorded) “a pouring, molding, casting,” verbal noun from Latin fundere “to pour”; see found 3
Explanation
A font is the specific style of text that's printed on a page or displayed on a computer screen. It's also the name for the container that holds water used in church baptisms. When designers talk about fonts, they mean the design, size, and boldness of letters and symbols. Many people use font and typeface interchangeably, but it's more accurate to distinguish the terms. Times New Roman is a typeface, but a specific version of it, like Times New Roman bold 12pt, is a font — it specifies exactly how the text will look. The religious font has a different root, which it shares with fountain.
Vocabulary lists containing font
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instagram did something bold and brave this week: It unveiled a new wordmark for the first time, stepping away from its signature cursive to a new and strange part-modern, part-script font.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
I put on my glasses to read the breakfast selections, which were printed in a microscopic font.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
More recently, it ran afoul of Pokémon’s legions by cribbing that franchise’s signature font and imagery.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
At a time when rich Western nations see mass immigration as the font of societal ills, Dubai and other Gulf cities stand as exceptional beacons for foreign talent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
Next, she twisted the candles into the small brass holders, filled the font with stale holy water, put a small oriental rug in front of the altar, and positioned Michael strategically to the far left.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
