serpent

noun

ser·​pent ˈsər-pənt 

1

a

archaic : a noxious creature that creeps, hisses, or stings

b

: snake

2

: devil sense 1

3

: a treacherous person

Synonyms

• snake
• viper

Examples of serpent in a Sentence

an Aztec carving of a feathered serpent representing the god Quetzalcoatl

beware the temptations of the serpent

Recent Examples on the Web

For his first Oscars, Pierce decided on a Giorgio Armani suit paired up with a vintage gold Tiffany’s brooch of a snake, and a Bulgari serpent ring as a nod to the Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

For instance, at the Mayan pyramid of Chichén Itzá in Mexico, the setting sun casts a shadow that resembles a serpent slithering down the pyramid’s steps—an event that drew crowds even in ancient times. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025

In 2022, a YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adults showed that seeing snakes was the most common fear, with 30 percent of respondents admitting to suffering an aversion to serpents. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025

Video shows the marine serpent swimming by the shore in the clear shallow waters while stubbed beachgoers surround it. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin serpent-, serpens, from present participle of serpere to creep; akin to Greek herpein to creep, Sanskrit sarpati he creeps

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing serpent

• sea serpent

Kids Definition

serpent

noun

ser·​pent ˈsər-pənt 

: a usually large snake