fag

[ fag ]

nounSlang.

Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.
Offensive. a contemptible or dislikable person.

Origin of fag

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; by shortening of faggot¹

usage alert For fag

The terms fag and faggot are both used with disparaging intent and are perceived as highly insulting. However, faggot (but not fag ) is sometimes used within the gay community as a positive term of self-reference.

Other words from fag

fag·gish, adjective

Other definitions for fag (2 of 2)

fag²

[ fag ]

verb (used with object),fagged, fag·ging.

to tire or weary by labor; exhaust (often followed by out): The long climb fagged us out.
British. to require (a younger public-school pupil) to do menial chores.

Nautical. to fray or unlay the end of (a rope).

verb (used without object),fagged, fag·ging.

Chiefly British. to work until wearied; work hard: to fag away at French.
British Informal. to do menial chores for an older public-school pupil.

noun

Slang. a cigarette.
a fag end, as of cloth.

a rough or defective spot in a woven fabric; blemish; flaw.
Chiefly British. drudgery; toil.
British Informal. a younger pupil in a British public school required to perform certain menial tasks for, and submit to the hazing of, an older pupil.
a drudge.

Origin of fag

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English fag(ge) “broken thread in cloth, a knot (in cloth), loose end” (further origin obscure); sense development apparently: “drooping end” to “droop, tire” to “make weary” to “drudgery, drudge” (compare flag¹ to flag³); (def. 6) a shortening of fag end (“a butt,” hence a cigarette)

Other words from fag

un·fagged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fag in a sentence

That said, these are not the same folks shouting “God Hates Fags” and carrying pictures of aborted fetuses.
How Anti-Gay Will Mississippi’s ‘New’ Religious Freedom Bill Be? | Jay Michaelson | March 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Klan is standing up to the 'God Hates Fags' protestors in light of the WBC's picketing of military funerals.
When Hate Collides: The KKK Meets the Westboro Baptist Church | Justin Green | December 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
God Hates Fags protestor Abigail Phelps said the KKK “have no moral authority on anything.”
When Hate Collides: The KKK Meets the Westboro Baptist Church | Justin Green | December 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for fag (1 of 3)

fag¹

/ (fæɡ) /

noun

informal a boring or wearisome task: it's a fag having to walk all that way
British (esp formerly) a young public school boy who performs menial chores for an older boy or prefect

verbfags, fagging or fagged

(when tr, often foll by out) informal to become or cause to become exhausted by hard toil or work
(usually intr) British to do or cause to do menial chores in a public school: Brown fags for Lee

Origin of fag

C18: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for fag (2 of 3)

fag²

/ (fæɡ) /

noun

British a slang word for cigarette
a fag end, as of cloth

Origin of fag

C16 (in the sense: something hanging loose, flap): of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for fag (3 of 3)

fag³

/ (fæɡ) /

noun

slang, mainly US and Canadian short for faggot 2

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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