noun
Common
Satan
SAY-tuhn
Satan (noun) means In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin; the Devil. Example: “The sermon described Satan as the ultimate source of temptation.”
noun
1
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin; the Devil.
"The sermon described Satan as the ultimate source of temptation."
2
Informally, a person seen as extremely wicked or cruel.
"Her ex-boss was an absolute Satan to work for."
How to use Satan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Devil — the personification of evil in the Abrahamic religions.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Satans
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The sermon described _____ as the ultimate source of temptation.
Etymology
Traced back through Latin and Greek to Hebrew satan, meaning "adversary" or "accuser" — originally a title or role rather than a personal name.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for Satan
See all rhymes for Satan →Frequently asked questions
What does “Satan” mean?
The word “Satan” means in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin; the Devil. In plain terms, the Devil — the personification of evil in the Abrahamic religions.
How do you pronounce “Satan”?
“Satan” is pronounced SAY-tuhn (/ˈseɪ.tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Satan” in a sentence?
Here is “Satan” used in a sentence: “The sermon described Satan as the ultimate source of temptation.”
What is another word for “Satan”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Satan” include Aduwallah, Adversary, Al-Shaytaan, Antichrist, archfiend and Ash-Shaytan.
What is the opposite of “Satan”?
The opposite of “Satan” — its antonyms — are god and Allah.
What part of speech is “Satan”?
“Satan” is a noun.
Where does the word “Satan” come from?
The word “Satan” comes from Latin. Traced back through Latin and Greek to Hebrew satan, meaning "adversary" or "accuser" — originally a title or role rather than a personal name.
Is “Satan” a common word?
“Satan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Satan and the Devil?
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Satan and the Devil refer to the same figure: the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin. "Satan" is generally treated as a proper name, while "the Devil" works as a title, and the two are used interchangeably in most English contexts.
Should Satan be capitalized?
Yes, Satan is capitalized because it functions as the proper name of the chief evil spirit who opposes God. The related adjective "satanic" is written with a lowercase s except at the start of a sentence.
What is the difference between Satan and Lucifer?
In Christian tradition both names are commonly used for the Devil, but "Satan" specifically names the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin. "Lucifer" is a name traditionally linked to the same figure, though exactly how the two names relate varies across religious and literary sources.
Is it correct to call a cruel person 'a Satan'?
Informally, "Satan" can describe a person seen as extremely wicked or cruel, but this use is figurative and emphatic rather than literal. In formal writing it is usually clearer to describe the person's actual behaviour.
