A typeface is the underlying visual design of a set of characters. In traditional metal printing, it literally means the raised surface of the type block that receives ink and presses into the paper. Typographers use the term to describe the overall creative style of the letters, numbers, and symbols, distinct from a font, which is the specific size, weight, or digital file of that design.
Heard on the job
We need a clean serif typeface for the body text, maybe something with a high x-height to hold up on this uncoated stock.
Insider tip
People often swap typeface and font in casual talk, but purists insist a typeface is what you see and a font is what you use.