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• Lucifer
  Lucifer

  noun

  a proud, rebellious archangel, identified with Satan, who fell from heaven.
• lucifer
  lucifer

  noun

  a friction match: originally a trade name for a match manufactured in England in the 19th century

Lucifer

American  

[loo-suh-fer] / ˈlu sə fər /

noun

1. a proud, rebellious archangel, identified with Satan, who fell from heaven.

2. the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star.

3. (lowercase) friction match.

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Lucifer ¹ British  

/ ˈluːsɪfə /

noun

1. the leader of the rebellion of the angels: usually identified with Satan

2. the planet Venus when it rises as the morning star

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lucifer ² British  

/ ˈluːsɪfə /

noun

1. a friction match: originally a trade name for a match manufactured in England in the 19th century

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Lucifer ¹ Cultural  

1. Another name for Satan.

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Lucifer ² Cultural  

1. A name, traditional in Christianity, for the leader of the devils, an angel who was cast from heaven into hell because he rebelled against God. Lucifer is usually identified with Satan. The name Lucifer, which means “bearer of light” or “morning star,” refers to his former splendor as the greatest of the angels.

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Etymology

Origin of Lucifer

before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Latin: morning star, literally, light-bringing, equivalent to lūci- (stem of lūx ) light + -fer -fer

Compare meaning

How does lucifer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Lucifer vs. Satan

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Lucifer lucifer

No wonder Dante, the Florence-born author of the “Divine Comedy,” consigned counterfeiters to the eighth circle of hell, “just one rung higher than Lucifer in the ninth.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

The Indian Express said "the emotional depth and dramatic weight that anchored Lucifer are largely absent in Empuraan" but praised "Mohanlal's commanding performance" and some other aspects of the film.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2025

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.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2024

He had the word Lucifer tattooed on his chest.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2023

And if ever Scythe Lucifer comes my way, I hope he’ll see me as one of the good ones.The way he once did.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

When that wind blew, the simplest of devices—from lucifer matches to lantern-slides—would no longer function.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Jaun now removed his empty pipe from his mouth and replaced it by a lucifer match, which, either as an aid to reflection or possibly for medicinal purposes, he chewed as he contemplated the ridge.

From Above the Snow Line by Clinton Thomas Dent

The recusants, in anticipation of some such step, had provided themselves with lucifer matches, and, by their aid, re-lit the lamps, and continued the meeting.

From The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852 by Various

To aid me, I lighted a lucifer match, and by its flickering glare I saw right in front of me that beautiful pale face, enclosed as it were in a frame by the little window.

From A Day's Ride A Life's Romance by Charles James Lever

The wretches disappeared behind my chair, and I heard one strike a lucifer.

From First Person Paramount by Ambrose Pratt

Related Words

• Satan