fairy tale

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fairy tale ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.

an incredible or misleading statement, account, or belief: His story of being a millionaire is just a fairy tale.

Nearby words

fairy ring, fairy shrimp, fairy stone, fairy story, fairy swallow, fairy tale, fairy-slipper, fairy-tale, fairyfloss, fairyhood, fairyism

Origin of fairy tale

First recorded in 1740–50

Also called fairy story.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fairy-tale

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
The first tradition, in fairy-tale terms, is the villain tradition.
Alleged Santa Barbara Killer Elliot Rodger and the Twisted Cult of Modern Masculinity|James Poulos|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The story of Singh and Patel is a heartwarming one, and perfectly fits into the mold of a fairy-tale Disney sports film.
The Aftermath of Disney’s ‘Million Dollar Arm’|Alex Suskind|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bernheimer is a well-known American fairy-tale writer, and Hunt is the editor of the Denver Quarterly.
An Edward Hopper Novel?|The Daily Beast|April 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Then she suffers a fairy-tale rescue at the hands of an aunt.
Is Henry James’s ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ the Great American Novel?|Michael Gorra|August 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
All the incidents of the medieval fairy-tale are viewed from the antique standpoint.
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, Vol. II (of 6): The Romantic School in Germany|Georg Brandes
This fairy-tale, the first of the legends of the gods, is given in the version current among the people.
The Chinese Fairy Book|Various
Now all that was downright selfish; it reminds one of a story—a sort of fairy-tale—about Minerva and Arachne.
Story Lessons of Character Building (Morals) and Manners|Los Bates
She felt as if she wanted to break all the mirrors in the world, like the wicked queen in the French fairy-tale.
The Rose Garden Husband|Margaret Widdemer
Is it like a fairy-tale where you stay when you aren't here?
The Little Red Chimney|Mary Finley Leonard

British Dictionary definitions for fairy-tale (1 of 2)

fairy-tale

adjective

of or relating to a fairy tale

resembling a fairy tale, esp in being extremely happy or fortunatea true story with a fairy-tale ending

highly improbablehe came out with a fairy-tale account of his achievements

British Dictionary definitions for fairy-tale (2 of 2)

fairy tale

fairy story

noun

a story about fairies or other mythical or magical beings, esp one of traditional origin told to children

a highly improbable account

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