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

Derived Forms

• Raphaelesque
  adjective

Example Sentences

He adopted it last year after his daughter prevailed upon him through the writings of Holocaust survivor and lawyer Raphael Lemkin, credited with coining the term.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Someone like MEP Raphael Glucksmann, of the small Place Publique party, could become a rallying point for moderate left-centre voters and draw them away from Philippe.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Michelangelo’s burning resentment of Da Vinci kept him warm at night, and his hostility toward Raphael fueled his years-long dedication to tagging up the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.

From Salon • May 16, 2026

Senate seat held by freshman Democrat Raphael Warnock.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Masterpieces by da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Raphael now hung in the private apartments of Nazi officials.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys