sans serif

American  

[sanz] / sænz /

noun

Printing.

1. a style of monotonal type without serifs.

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sans serif British  

/ sænˈsɛrɪf /

noun

1. a style of printer's typeface in which the characters have no serifs

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Other Word Forms

• sans-serif adjective

Etymology

Origin of sans serif

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Its name is a pun on the sans serif group of typefaces, and the island was depicted as being shaped like a semi-colon.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025

Homes around it got fresh paint, sans serif house numbers and were flipped for $1 million and more.

From Washington Post • Feb. 2, 2023

Several experts said the research now leans strongly toward the conclusion that sans serif fonts are more readable, but there is a decades-long history of disagreement.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2023

Large sans serif fonts modernize the front of a home, while smaller serif numbers suit more traditional homes because they’re not as dramatic, Ducsik says.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2022

Occupied by the British in June, 1900, the available South African Republic stamps having the Dutch name overprinted "Cancelled" and the addition of the sans serif letters, separated by hyphens "V-R-I." in blue and red.

From The Postage Stamp in War by Melville, Fred. J.