fairy

[ fair-ee ]

/ ˈfɛər i /

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See synonyms for: fairy / fairier / fairiest / fairies on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural fair·ies.

(in folklore) one of a class of supernatural beings, generally conceived as having a diminutive human form and possessing magical powers with which they intervene in human affairs.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

adjective

of or relating to fairies: fairy magic.

of the nature of a fairy; fairylike.

fairy green.

OTHER WORDS FOR fairy

1 pixie, leprechaun.

See synonyms for fairy on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

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shall

should

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Origin of fairy

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English faierie, fairie, from Old French: literally, “enchantment, fairyland, fairy folk”; see fay¹, -ery

synonym study for fairy

1. Fairy, brownie, elf, sprite are terms for imaginary beings usually less than human size, thought to be helpful or harmful to people. Fairy is the most general name for such beings: a good fairy as a godmother; misadventures caused by an evil fairy. A brownie is a good-natured tiny being who appears usually at night to do household tasks: Perhaps the brownies will come and mow the lawn tonight. Elf suggests a young, mischievous or roguish fairy: That child is a perfect little elf. Sprite suggests a fairy of pleasing appearance, older than an elf, to be admired for ease and lightness of movement; it may, however, be impish or even hostile: a dainty sprite.

Words nearby fairy

Fairview Heights, Fairview Park, fairway, fair-weather, fair-weather friend, fairy, fairy bluebird, fairy cycle, fairyfloss, fairy glove, fairy godfather

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use fairy in a sentence

The fairy godmother is a magical stretch, but massive pumpkins are very real.
Here’s how giant pumpkins get so big|Bethany Brookshire|October 28, 2020|Science News For Students
In our book, we introduce the “Switch Witch,” who comes at night to exchange excess candy for a small gift, kind of like the tooth fairy for Halloween.
Feeling Scared About How Your Kids Can Enjoy Halloween This Year? Have No Fear – Healthy Snacks Are Here|LGBTQ-Editor|October 27, 2020|No Straight News
To be fair, before Western mermaids were made all cute by fairy tales and Disney they were feared for leading sailors to certain doom.
Be Very Afraid: A Virtual House of Horrors|Tracy Moran|October 25, 2020|Ozy
For a long time now, such experiences have been considered not very reliable, certainly unscientific, and, if valid at all, deeply steeped in that pleasant state of mind known to us from fairy tales, novels, and poems.
What the Meadow Teaches Us - Issue 90: Something Green|Andreas Weber|September 16, 2020|Nautilus

Because in many ways that feels like the ultimate dream, it almost feels like a fairy tale, honestly.
Tan France Goes Deep on Racism and When He Almost Quit ‘Queer Eye’|Eugene Robinson|September 3, 2020|Ozy
But when the darkness closes in, we actually run to fairy tales and fables.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Actually, rather like Gruber, we feel rather icky about fairy tales.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not that the demonstration had anything to do with this couple, whom Sarah seems to see as a fairy tale come to life.
Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill|Michael Daly|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Were the fairy-tale true it really would shame the affluent west.
The Dark Side of Cuba’s Ebola Economy|James Bloodworth|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In reality, prison weddings look nothing like the fairy tales depicted on TV and in bridal magazines.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The tailor of the fairy tale with his "seven at a blow" is not in it with the gunnery Lieutenant of a battleship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
The Elizabethan pipes were so small that now when they are dug up in Ireland the poor call them 'fairy pipes' from their tininess.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Spenser in his Fairy Queen makes one of the characters include it with other herbs celebrated for medicinal qualities.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
She had just come to forty-nine, and was wondering if she might remind the fairy father of his duty, when the door opened.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
Many years ago I collected together a large number of these 'Fairy Pipes' from all parts of the kingdom.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for fairy

fairy

/ (ˈfɛərɪ) /

noun plural fairies

an imaginary supernatural being, usually represented in diminutive human form and characterized as clever, playful, and having magical powers

slang a male homosexual

away with the fairies informal out of touch with reality

adjective (prenominal)

of or relating to a fairy or fairies

resembling a fairy or fairies, esp in being enchanted or delicate

Derived forms of fairy

fairy-like, adjective

Word Origin for fairy

C14: from Old French faerie fairyland, from feie fairy, from Latin Fāta the Fates; see fate, fay 1

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with fairy

fairy

In addition to the idiom beginning with fairy

fairy godmother

also see:

tooth fairy

fairy

OTHER WORDS FOR fairy

Origin of fairy

synonym study for fairy

Words nearby fairy

Words related to fairy

How to use fairy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fairy

Derived forms of fairy

Word Origin for fairy

Other Idioms and Phrases with fairy