fad
Americannoun
noun
-
an intense but short-lived fashion; craze
-
a personal idiosyncrasy or whim
noun
Other Word Forms
- faddish adjective
- faddishness noun
- faddism noun
- faddist noun
- fadlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of fad
1825–35; noun use of dial. fad to look after things, busy oneself with trifles, back formation from obsolete faddle to play with, fondle. See fiddle
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.
In the wake of an anticipated fiber craze that is expected to trump last year’s protein-maxxing dietary fad, chia seeds have become all the rage.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
Even though the program’s popularity could well be a fad, it is lifting investor sentiment toward the sector, Morningstar analyst Ivan Su said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Fairyland is considered the first “storybook”-style park in the country, launching a national fad.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026
Some have dismissed the gut-obsession as a passing fad - however many doctors think that our gut microbiome might affect a whole spectrum of things, from mental health to the likelihood of getting certain cancers.
From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026
When trucks began to replace horses and wagons, he scoffed at the idea, labeling the trucks as a mere fad that would never last.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
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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.