seraph

American  

[ser-uhf] / ˈsɛr əf /

noun

plural

seraphs, seraphim

1. one of the celestial beings hovering above God's throne in Isaiah's vision. Isaiah 6.

2. a member of the highest order of angels, often represented as a child's head with wings above, below, and on each side.

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seraph British  

/ ˈsɛrəf /

noun

1. theol a member of the highest order of angels in the celestial hierarchies, often depicted as the winged head of a child

2. Old Testament one of the fiery six-winged beings attendant upon Jehovah in Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 6)

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Other Word Forms

• seraphlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of seraph

First recorded in 1660–70; back formation from seraphim

Explanation

A seraph is an angel — a heavenly, human-like creature with wings. In Christianity, a seraph is an angel of the first order, which is a very important angel. A seraph is a member of a group of angels called the seraphim, who are believed to have six wings. In paintings and sculpture, a seraph is often portrayed as a child with wings. Seraphic is a word meaning "angelic."

Example Sentences

Mr. Tomash, mirroring Taylor Stanley, who identifies as nonbinary, has what might be seen as a seraph role, given the wing-like, flowing sleeves of fashion designer Iris van Herpen’s costuming, supervised by Marc Happel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

Foul-mouthed seraph Ashnikko first strikes viewers with her long blue pigtails and ethereal humanoid beauty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2021

"Angel," for example, depicts a seraph of some sort — but one that's badly damaged.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2012

Falling in love with an enemy seraph, she is forced to discover her role in the brutal war between angels and monsters.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2011

Something had fallen, but it couldn’t be her, and the great seraph couldn’t be keeling over.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• angelic
• pious
• upstanding