fancy

[fan-see]

adjective

fancier, fanciest 

1. ornamental; decorative; not plain.

   a cake with a fancy icing.

   Synonyms: ornate, decorated

2. tending or intending to impress: fancy four-syllable words.

   a fancy degree in geophysics;

   fancy four-syllable words.

3. complicated or difficult to perform or execute.

   a couple doing some fancy footwork on the dance floor.

4. depending on imagination or caprice; whimsical; irregular.

   a fancy conception of time.

5. made, designed, grown, adapted, etc., to please the taste or fancy; of superfine quality or exceptional appeal.

   fancy goods; fancy fruits.

   Synonyms: choice, elegant, fine

6. bred to develop points of beauty or excellence, as an animal.

7. much too costly; exorbitant or extravagant.

   a consultant who charges fancy fees.

noun

plural

fancies 

1. imagination or fantasy, especially as exercised in a capricious manner.

2. the artistic ability of creating unreal or whimsical imagery, decorative detail, etc., as in poetry or drawing.

3. a mental image or conception.

   He had happy fancies of being a famous actor.

   Synonyms: phantasm, idea, impression, notion, thought

4. an idea or opinion with little foundation; illusion.

   Her belief that she can sing is a mere fancy.

5. a caprice; whim; vagary.

   It was his fancy to fly to Paris occasionally for dinner.

   Synonyms: crotchet, humor, quirk

6. capricious preference; inclination; a liking.

   to take a fancy to walking barefoot in the streets.

7. critical judgment; taste.

8. the breeding of animals to develop points of beauty or excellence.

9. Archaic.,  the fancy, people deeply interested in a sport, art, etc.

10. Obsolete.,  sexual love.

verb (used with object)

fancied, fancying 

1. to form a conception of; picture to oneself.

   Fancy living with that egotist all your life!

   Synonyms: imagine, conceive, envision

2. to believe without being absolutely sure or certain.

   I fancy you are my new neighbor.

3. to take a liking to; like.

   I really fancy the spotted one in that litter.

4. to want or desire.

   I fancy another piece of cake.

5. to breed to develop a special type of animal.

interjection

1. null fancy that (used as an exclamation of mild surprise).

   They invited you, too? Fancy!

verb phrase

1. fancy up,  to make superficially showy by way of improvement.

   an old car fancied up with a bright new paint job.

fancy

/ ˈfænsɪ /

adjective

1. not plain; ornamented or decorative

   a fancy cake

   fancy clothes

2. requiring skill to perform; intricate

   a fancy dance routine

3. arising in the imagination; capricious or illusory

4. ( often used ironically ) superior in quality or impressive

   a fancy course in business administration

5. higher than expected

   fancy prices

6. (of a domestic animal) bred for particular qualities

noun

1. a sudden capricious idea; whim

2. a sudden or irrational liking for a person or thing

3. the power to conceive and represent decorative and novel imagery, esp in poetry. Fancy was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than imagination See imagination

4. an idea or thing produced by this

5. a mental image

6. taste or judgment, as in art of dress

7. Also called: fantasy.  fantasia. music a composition for solo lute, keyboard, etc, current during the 16th and 17th centuries

8. archaic,  those who follow a particular sport, esp prize fighting

verb

1. to picture in the imagination

2. to suppose; imagine

   I fancy it will rain

3. (often used with a negative) to like

   I don't fancy your chances!

4. (reflexive) to have a high or ill-founded opinion of oneself

   he fancied himself as a doctor

5. informal,  to have a wish for; desire

   she fancied some chocolate

6. informal,  to be physically attracted to (another person)

7. to breed (animals) for particular characteristics

interjection

1. Also: fancy that!. an exclamation of surprise or disbelief

Other Word Forms

• fanciness noun
• unfancy adjective
• fancily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fancy¹

First recorded in 1400–1450; Middle English fan(t)sy, syncopated variant of fantasie fantasy

Word History and Origins

Origin of fancy¹

C15 fantsy , shortened from fantasie ; see _fantasy

Idioms and Phrases

see flight of fancy; footloose and fancy-free; take a fancy to; tickle one's fancy;.

Synonym Study

Fancy, fantasy, imagination refer to qualities in literature or other artistic composition. The creations of fancy are casual, whimsical, and often amusing, being at once less profound and less moving or inspiring than those of imagination: letting one's fancy play freely on a subject; an impish fancy. Fantasy now usually suggests an unrestrained or extravagant fancy, often resulting in caprice: The use of fantasy in art creates interesting results. The term and concept of creative imagination are less than two hundred years old; previously only the reproductive aspect had been recognized, hardly to be distinguished from memory. “Creative imagination” suggests that the memories of actual sights and experiences may so blend in the mind of the writer or artist as to produce something that has never existed before—often a hitherto unperceived vision of reality: to use imagination in portraying character and action.

Example Sentences

How about paying down a mortgage and planning a fancy wedding?

From Salon

The more I think about it, the more I quite fancy Burnley for a draw here.

From BBC

PORTLAND, Ore. — There is a rhetorical battle raging here in this heavily Democratic city, known for its delicious coffee, plethora of fancy restaurants, bespoke doughnuts and also for its small faction of black-clad activists.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than hosting fancy political fundraisers or headlining presidential campaign rallies, Fonda devotes her efforts to electing like-minded state legislators, city council members, utility board officials and candidates in other less flashy but critical races.

From Los Angeles Times

The batter is more liquid than solid, like crepe batter, while apple butter is dense, so resist the urge to get fancy.

From Salon

Related Words

• complicated 
• decorative 
• deluxe 
• elegant 
• frilly 
• gaudy 
• lavish 
• ornate 
• special 
• sumptuous