Lucifer

noun

Lu·​ci·​fer ˈlü-sə-fər 

1

—used as a name of the devil

2

: the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star

3

not capitalized : a friction match having as active substances antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate

Luciferian

ˌlü-sə-ˈfir-ē-ən 

adjective

Synonyms

• archfiend
• Beelzebub
• devil
• fiend
• Old Nick
• Satan
• serpent

Examples of Lucifer in a Sentence

Lucifer is depicted as a powerful but proud angel who leads a revolt against heaven.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), daughter of Lucifer and princess of Hell, who dreams of opening a hotel with the (likely impossible) goal of rehabilitating demons to stop Heaven from coming down and culling their population once a year. —Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 12 June 2024

And Tom Ellis, famous for playing Lucifer on Lucifer, voicing God trapped in a cat’s body? —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 20 May 2024

When Lucifer abandoned his domain, Hell was emptied, and Edwin was among the souls who returned to that boarding school. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Apr. 2024

Anchored along the serene waters of the Dal were houseboats with names like Queen's Lap, Lucifer, Manhattan, Sydney, and Jannat (meaning paradise) to cater to global tastes, and also the world's only floating post office. —Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Apr. 2023

Reeves has since appeared on shows including Once Upon a Time, Lucifer and The Punisher. —Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024

Branscomb’s daughter, Chantal, is also performing in the play as the devil-in-chief, Lucifer, and is the lead singer for most of the songs in this year’s show. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2023

The menacing maestro of pop, the Lucifer of the loop pedal, the acoustic animal himself made a surprise appearance at 50 Cent’s show in London Tuesday night, Nov. 21. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

Henningsen, known for her role as Cady Heron in Broadway’s Mean Girls musical, will voice Charlie, the estranged daughter of Lucifer who wants to find a way to redeem sinners into Heaven through rehabilitation in the Hazbin Hotel. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, the morning star, a fallen rebel archangel, the Devil, from Old English, from Latin, the morning star, from lucifer light-bearing, from luc-, lux light + -fer -ferous — more at light

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Lucifer

noun

Lu·​ci·​fer ˈlü-sə-fər 

: devil entry 1 sense 1

Etymology

Old English Lucifer "the morning star, a fallen angel, the Devil," from Latin Lucifer "the morning star, bearer of light," derived from luc-, lux "light" and -fer "bearing"

Word Origin

What we sometimes call "the morning star" is really the planet Venus. The Romans called it Lucifer, meaning "bearer of light," because it appeared in the sky just before sunrise. So when, in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah says, in describing the downfall of the king of Babylon, "How are you fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of dawn," the "Morning Star" became Lucifer in the Latin translation. Early Christians thought that Isaiah was also referring to the devil, who had likewise "fallen from heaven." Thus the word Lucifer came to be applied to the devil.