fanciful
Americanadjective
-
not based on fact; dubious or imaginary
fanciful notions
-
made or designed in a curious, intricate, or imaginative way
-
indulging in or influenced by fancy; whimsical
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of fanciful
Explanation
Turn fanciful around and you get "full of fancy," which gives you the gist of the meaning. The adjective refers to something not quite real, usually something with a whimsical or even dreamlike quality. The adjective fanciful sprang from the 15th-century noun fancy, which was in turn a short version of the word fantasy. All three words contain the same elemental meaning, that of something unreal. Someone who is fanciful usually allows creative thought rather than the practical to come to the forefront. Edgar Allan Poe said, "It will be found, in fact, that the ingenious are always fanciful, and the truly imaginative never otherwise than analytic."
Vocabulary lists containing fanciful
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 6
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"If there was a war in Taiwan today, the likelihood that China is going to militarise these humanoids and fight effectively is fanciful," he adds.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
That seemed fanciful, but their confidence has proved well-placed.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
All A.I. systems today are built around neural networks, which, despite their fanciful name, are just math formulas.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
Kyle Balda directs the fanciful comedy, which is based on Leonie Swann’s 2005 novel, “Three Bags Full.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
Some were like small castles, while others looked like ships or space stations, and still others grew like trees, with fanciful balconies and rooftop gardens.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
