What does serpentine mean?
“Serpentine” describes something that winds, twists, or moves in a long, snake-like course. It is especially useful for describing roads, rivers, paths, gestures, dance, and other forms of movement that are not straight. The word carries a formal, vivid quality: it suggests both the physical shape of a snake and the indirect, shifting quality of something that continually changes direction. In literary or historical contexts, “serpentine” can also be a noun meaning a snake or serpent, though “snake” is much more common in everyday English. The adjective is precise without being obscure, and it can give a description an elegant sense of fluidity, complexity, or controlled motion.
Winding, twisting, or moving in a snake-like manner.
"The road takes a serpentine route along the edge of the cliff."
Formal but common in descriptive writing; especially used for paths, movement, and shapes.
A snake or serpent.
"The story describes a serpentine creature dwelling beneath the lake."
Chiefly literary, archaic, or poetic; “snake” is the usual modern term.
Plural is possible in formal or literary contexts, though the word is now most often used as an adjective.
"The old manuscripts depict serpentines coiling around the sacred tree."
“Serpentine” describes anything that moves or bends like a snake, from roads and rivers to the body of a dancer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does serpentine come from?
The word comes through French from Latin “serpentinus,” an adjective derived from “serpens,” meaning “snake” or “serpent.” The English word was established as an adjective for something winding or snake-like and was also used for a snake, especially in literary language. The Latin root is also reflected in the English word “serpent,” a cognate sharing the same basic meaning.
Related word forms
How serpentine is actually used
As an adjective, “serpentine” is formal but relatively common in descriptions of movement, paths, rivers, and dance. As a noun, it is chiefly literary or historical and means a snake; “snake” is the ordinary modern word.