fawn

¹ American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

noun

• fawns
  plural

1. 

   a young deer, especially an unweaned one.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

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adjective

1. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

fawn ² American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior.

   The courtiers fawned over the king.

   Synonyms:

   kowtow, flatter, truckle, toady

2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

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fawn ¹ British  

/ fɔːn /

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year

2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a fawn raincoat

3. (of deer) pregnant

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verb

1. (of deer) to bear (young)

fawn ² British  

/ fɔːn /

verb

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering

2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fawner
  noun
• fawningness
  noun
• fawning
  adjective
• fawnlike
  adjective
• fawningly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fawns
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fawn¹

1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus

Origin of fawn²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian “to rejoice, make glad,” derivative of fægen “happy”; see fain

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Explanation

A fawn is a young deer, but it's also a verb meaning to try and win favor by flattering. You might fawn over Bambi if you want to hang out with the cute and fuzzy gang. As a verb, fawn either refers to an attempt to get on someone’s good side, or, oddly enough, to give birth to a deer. If you're a human, fawning is an age-old art that might get you what you want but can be very unattractive. If you ever come into possession of a great fortune, watch out for sudden friends who want to fawn over you and shower you with presents. They probably have dollar signs in their eyes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fawn fawns

She isn’t a figure of pity or depravity, just a woman with the unsteadiness of a fawn.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

They write because they want others to fawn over the content.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

This is not a preying tiger in the Indian jungle - but a happily mooching Dalmatian dog in Dagnam Park, Romford, unknowingly closing in on a days-old fallow deer fawn.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

One of his favorite moves is to humiliate people who are dumb enough to fawn over him.

From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2025

He paused, pulled on his long black coat, which had hung in the front hall, incongruous beside Mr. Frost’s tweed jacket and fawn mackintosh.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

In recent days, AFP journalists have seen roe deer and fawns looking disorientated in the middle of scorched and barren woodland.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

During that time when the mother is out feeding, the fawns have been known to hide in underbrush, according to the Park Service.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2025

“Bears, coyotes and bobcats may take fawns, but humans are by and large the only predators of deer.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2021

When food sources are plentiful, female deer produce more milk and fawns grow faster, Wolfer said.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2021

And foremost among the men in the village who exclaimed over his prosperity was his uncle, for his uncle in these days was like a dog who fawns and desires to win favor.

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

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