angel

noun

an·​gel ˈān-jəl 

plural angels

1

a

religion : a spiritual being serving as a divine messenger and intermediary and often as a special protector of an individual or nation

especially : one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy see also guardian angel

b

angels plural, religion : an order of angels see celestial hierarchy

c(1)

: an attendant usually benevolent spirit or guardian

—often used without implication of belief in its supernatural character

"A putting angel must have come to me during the night because I felt great today and every putt I hit was a great putt," he [Paul McGinley] said.

—Nelson Clare

(2)

: the part of a person's character or nature that is said to guide the person's thoughts and behavior

… here was [Lyndon] Johnson charging straight at a problem, telling his fellow citizens an ugly truth about themselves while trying to invoke the better angels of their nature.

—Kevin Baker

[Lamar] Alexander concluded: "In his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln appealed to the better angels of our nature. If there are better angels of our nature, I guess that means there must be worse angels in us as well. …"

—Congressional Documents and Publications

2

: a usually white-robed winged figure of human form in fine art see also snow angel

3

: messenger, harbinger

an angel of death

The dear good angel of the Spring, / The nightingale.

—Ben Jonson

4

: a person who is like an angel (as in looks or behavior)

Your toddler is such an angel.

Be an angel and get me a cup of tea, would you?

Childs is no angel either, and that gives his book its drama.

—George Johnson

5

Christian Science : inspiration from God

6

: one who aids or supports with money or influence

Angels are considered one of the oldest sources of capital for start-up entrepreneurs; the term itself, by most accounts, comes from the affluent patrons who used to finance Broadway plays in the early twentieth century.

—Colleen Debaise

Typically, angel investors put up anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 to back a young start-up, and can fund as many as 10 companies at any given time.

—Michael B. Farrell

7

: angelfish

Synonyms

• dove
• innocent
• lamb
• sheep

Examples of angel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Golden angels look on from the centerpiece of one of the rebuilt ceilings, seeming to fly again above the transept. —Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024

The angel with a penchant for spreading holiday cheer was previously played by the late Doris Roberts in 2009's Mrs. Miracle and 2010's Call Me Mrs. Miracle, and Caroline Rhea in 2021's Debbie Macomber's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas. —Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

The angel on my right shoulder and the devil on my left are deadlocked. —Dwight Garner, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

Angel Investors: Unlike VC firms, angel investors often provide smaller amounts of capital and may have less stringent expectations for high-growth returns. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English engel & Anglo-French angele; both from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos, literally, messenger

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing angel

• angel dust
• angel food cake
• angel-hair pasta
• angel investors
• destroying angel
• guardian angel
• snow angel

Kids Definition

angel

noun

an·​gel ˈān-jəl 

1

: a spiritual being serving God especially as a messenger or as a guardian of human beings

2

: messenger, harbinger

angel of death

3

: a person as pure, lovely, or good as an angel

angelic

an-ˈjel-ik 

adjective

or angelical

-i-kəl 

angelically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

Middle English angel "spiritual being," from Old English engel and early French angele (both, same meaning), derived from Greek angelos "messenger"