fae

American  

[fey] / feɪ /

plural noun

1. a plural of fairy.

   the lands of the fae.

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noun

faes plural

1. Also called faerie.  (in modern fantasy fiction) fairy.

   A werewolf would never strike out at a fae, unless the pack were attacked.

fae British  

/ feɪ /

preposition

1. a Scot word for from

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Usage

What does fae mean? Fae is a Scottish preposition that means "from."English is spoken differently in different places, and the Scottish dialect (called Scots) comes with some of its own words. Example: Mary asked James, “Whaur are ye fae?” meaning “Where are you from?”

Synonym Usage

See fairy.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• faes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fae

First recorded in 1350–1400; see origin at fay ¹ ( def. ); see also fairy ( def. )

Example Sentences

I loved watching the fae creatures of the Fantastikals frolic around, getting into mischief.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Zardoya’s yearning for a love lost crescendoes, and is most devastating, in the piano ballad “Back to You”; but it seems as though even her darkest, most melancholic moments are touched by the fae.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

In exchange for their lives, the fae are expected to refrain from flying or aspiring to be on equal social footing with humans.

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2019

While the fae are mostly used as a metaphor for refugees and racial discrimination, there’s also an undertone of queerness led by the casting of Delevingne, who is bisexual and genderfluid, playing a bisexual faerie.

From The Verge • Aug. 15, 2019

Ella tried to read all the labels—tarragon, fae rose, fennel, wombie gold, saffron, cinnamon, star tears—but gave up after losing her place.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton