Sans-Serif
/ˌsænz ˈsɛrɪf/noun
A typeface style whose letters lack the small finishing strokes called serifs.
Did you know?The word “serif” is commonly traced to Dutch schreef, meaning “a line” or “stroke,” though its precise history remains somewhat uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
sine
“without”
11th–12th Century
Old French
sans
“without; absent of”
16th–17th Century
Dutch
schreef
“a line, stroke, or mark”
Early 19th Century
English
serif
“A finishing stroke on a printed letter”
1830s
English
sans-serif
“A type style made without serifs”
Modern English
English
sans-serif
“A font style lacking decorative terminal strokes”