fancy

1 of 3

verb

fan·​cy ˈfan(t)-sē How to pronounce fancy (audio)
fancied; fancying

transitive verb

1
: to have a fancy (see fancy entry 2 sense 1) for : like
He's all right, I suppose, but I can't say that I fancy him.
2
: to form a conception of : imagine
fancy our embarrassment
Just fancy my surprise when I heard that he was getting married.
3
a
: to believe mistakenly or without evidence
b
: to believe without being certain
she fancied she had met him before
real or fancied wrongs
4
: to visualize or interpret as
fancied myself a child again

fancy

2 of 3

noun

plural fancies
1
a
: a liking formed by caprice rather than reason : inclination
took a fancy to the mutt
b
: amorous fondness : love
She took a fancy to the young man.
2
a
b
: an image or representation of something formed in the mind
3
archaic : fantastic quality or state
4
a
: imagination especially of a capricious or delusive sort
His plans to build a new stadium are the product of pure fancy.
b
: the power of conception and representation used in artistic expression (as by a poet)
5
: taste, judgment
a person of delicate fancy
6
a
: devotees of some particular art, practice, or amusement
b
: the object of interest of such a fancy
especially : boxing entry 1

fancy

3 of 3

adjective

fancier; fanciest
1
: dependent or based on fancy : whimsical
2
a(1)
: not plain : ornamental
a fancy hairdo
(2)
: swank sense 2, posh
a fancy restaurant
b(1)
: of particular excellence or highest grade
fancy tuna
(2)
: impressive
posted some fancy numbers
c
of an animal or plant : bred especially for bizarre or ornamental qualities that lack practical utility
3
: based on conceptions of the fancy
fancy sketches
4
a
: dealing in fancy goods
b
: extravagant
paying fancy prices
5
: executed with technical skill and style
fancy footwork
fancy diving
6
: parti-color
fancy carnations
fancily adverb
fanciness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fancy

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of.

think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

Examples of fancy in a Sentence

Verb Which horse do you fancy in the Derby? try to fancy, if you can, our mother on an elephant when she was touring India Noun His plans to build a new stadium are the product of pure fancy. Critics have dismissed his plan as mere fancy. Adjective He drives a big, fancy car. we're having a little get-together after the concert—nothing fancy
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Fashion designers have fancied them up for catwalks and store shelves. Leanne Italie, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 The gap in personal proclivities of those occupying Senate seats was very obvious during the many years when Feinstein, an uber-serious lawmaker, and Barbara Boxer, who fancied herself a political warrior, were California’s two senators. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 Nonbelievers may suspect that the Christian notion of Providence is itself whimsical, in its conceit of a Creator who, one day, just fancied us into life. James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Sam Champion seemingly fancies himself as morning TV's premier Daddy. EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 The only laborers Ludvig manages to keep are a couple of runaway tenant farmers, Johannes (Morten Hee Andersen) and Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin), whom Frederik also fancies his own. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 The only laborers Ludvig manages to keep are a couple of runaway tenant farmers Johannes (Morten Hee Andersen) and Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin), whom Frederik also fancies his own. Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 For those who fancy a freckled look, the Marine Drest freckle pens are a breeze to use. Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2023 But neither Beathard, nor the gruff Butler, nor the imperious Smith had to co-exist with a Spanos who fancied himself a football man and was given executive control of the football office. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2023
Noun
Explore South Carolina 12 of 20 Vero Beach, Florida Over on the Sunshine State's Atlantic coast, Vero Beach offers the best of both retirement worlds: Shops and restaurants ranging from funky to fancy, plus with miles of hiking and biking trails, sandy shores, and wildlife refuges for exploring. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 What is happening—a reality Musk may be trying to obscure with his flights of fancy—is that ad revenue has tanked, brands are staying away, and, according to Fidelity, X’s market value has likely declined by roughly 70% since Musk bought it. Mathew Ingram, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024 The appeals court opinion featured one of the more curious flights of fancy by a federal judge — a separate opinion by Appellate Justice James C. Ho, another Trump appointee. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 With scripts based on real stories and inventive flights of fancy, Netflix's deep catalog of thrillers includes the works of filmmakers who helped jumpstart the genre, those who advanced it, and those whose work serves as a pastiche to those who paved the way. EW.com, 18 Jan. 2024 With a variety of hues that compliment pale to deep skin tones, there’s bound to be a shade that fits your fancy among the 18 in the SuperSatin line. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024 The new top lot of the sale was a platinum ring centered with a 3.49-carat fancy internally flawless vivid blue diamond that fetched $5.5 million, matching its high estimate (top image). Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Deciding which tune will tickle the fancy of the largest number of academy members voting in the original song category for the 96th Oscars is one of the more difficult tasks of the awards year. Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023 Perhaps, as has been suggested, our A.I. worries will years from now turn out to have been just another passing apocalyptic fancy, on the order of Y2K. Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Easter is Sunday, March 31, this year, which means egg hunts, Easter Bunny sightings, fancy outfits and family get-togethers are around the corner. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024 That’s when airlines – which usually concentrate on publicizing their inflight entertainment and fancy seats – started talking about HEPA filters. Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Tourists, armed with cameras, like to wander around Gion, hoping to catch the women on their way to dance class or a fancy dinner party. Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 The fancier villas offer beach views, infinity pools, a fitness center and other amenities. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 The first stunning piece is topped by a fancy blue diamond of 1.13 carats (estimate: $150,000 to $250,000), and the second gold design is adorned with a fancy yellow diamond of 10.01 carats and two smaller, clear diamonds (estimate: $70,000 and $100,000). Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 But that popular fancy dining, drinking and noshing under the sun or night lights habit on Ocean Drive is not to be for the next two weekends. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 But Take Note This coat doesn’t have a hood, so your fancy kid will need a hat to match. Casey Clark, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 This slightly fancy, yet quite easy, way to serve eggs and toast deserves the slightly fancy name of Goldenrod Eggs. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fantasien, fantesien, fancyen "to plan, devise, create, form (an idea), imagine (something false), desire," in part derivative of fantasie, fantsy, fansey fancy entry 2, in part borrowed from Middle French fantasier "to imagine, invent," verbal derivative of fantasie fantasy entry 1

Noun

Middle English fantasie, fantsy, fansey "the imagination as a faculty, mental image produced by this faculty, deluded notion, figment of the imagination, preference directed by caprice rather than reason, liking" — more at fantasy entry 1

Note: The disyllabic form, a rare variant of fantasie fantasy entry 1 in Middle English, became more common and began to separate in sense from fantasie/fantasy in early Modern English.

Adjective

from attributive use of fancy entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fancy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fancy

Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fancy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fancy

1 of 3 verb
fancied; fancying
1
: to have a fancy for : like
2
: to form a mental image of : imagine

fancy

2 of 3 noun
fan·​cy
ˈfan(t)-sē
plural fancies
1
: liking
took a fancy to the stray dog
2
: notion, whim
a passing fancy
3

fancy

3 of 3 adjective
fancier; fanciest
1
: based on fancy : unpredictable
2
a
: not plain : ornamental
b
: of particular excellence
c
: bred especially for a showy appearance
a fancy goldfish
3
: done with great skill and grace
fancy footwork
fancily adverb
fanciness noun

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