Raphael

American  

[raf-ee-uhl, rey-fee-, rah-fahy-el] / ˈræf i əl, ˈreɪ fi-, ˌrɑ faɪˈɛl /

noun

1. Raffaello Santi or Sanzio, 1483–1520, Italian painter.

2. one of the archangels.

3. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “healing of the Lord.”

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Raphael British  

/ ˈræfeɪəl /

noun

1. Bible one of the archangels; the angel of healing and the guardian of Tobias (Tobit 3:17; 5–12). Feast day: Sept 29

2. original name Raffaello Santi or Sanzio . 1483–1520, Italian painter and architect, regarded as one of the greatest artists of the High Renaissance. His many paintings include the Sistine Madonna (?1513) and the Transfiguration (unfinished, 1520)

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Raphael Cultural  

1. A sixteenth-century Italian painter. A contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, he is known for his beautiful and gracious Madonnas and The School of Athens (see Plato's Academy).

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Other Word Forms

• Raphaelesque adjective

Example Sentences

Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and now Raphael: New York's prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art is dedicating a retrospective to the third of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance.

From Barron's

While Leonardo da Vinci struggled to finish his projects, and Michelangelo tended to focus obsessively on the same themes, Raphael completed an astonishing number and variety of commissions in his short life.

From The Wall Street Journal

She will take the Oscars stage on Sunday alongside star Miles Caton and musician Raphael Saadiq for their performance of the film’s blues track “I Lied to You.”

From Los Angeles Times

A number of countries also raised concerns after Raphael came top of the public vote in 2025 - finishing second overall after jury votes were taken into consideration.

From BBC

In his last public appearance as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Raphael Bostic delivered a final warning: Inflation has stalled, and the Fed’s credibility is at risk.

From Barron's