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

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

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

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

Word Origin and History for fairy-tale

fairy tale

"oral narrative centered on magical tests, quests, and transformations," 1749, translating French Conte de feés of Madame d'Aulnois (1698, translated into English 1699). As an adjective (also fairytale), attested by 1963.