fancy

American  

[fan-see] / ˈfæn si /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

fancy Idioms  

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

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• fancily adverb
• fanciness noun
• unfancy adjective

Etymology

Origin of fancy

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

Explanation

Fancy can be an adjective, noun, or a verb. As an adjective, it’s the opposite of plain. The noun names something that isn’t real. When someone likes or wants something, the verb can be used: “I fancy a cup of tea.” Doesn’t that sound fancy? Fancy is an old contraction of the word fantasy. You’ll often see this word used in the phrase “flights of fancy.” This phrase refers to an unrealistic goal or idea such as, “He has flights of fancy about running off to Hollywood and becoming a movie star.” Fancy can also be used as an expression of affection. If you have a crush on someone, for instance, you could say that you “took a fancy” to him or her.

Example Sentences

The fancy buckets are expensive to produce, but Cinemark considers them worthwhile because they augment popcorn and soda sales, he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

It is symbolic of your enterprising younger self, and all of those fancy cars and five-star vacations that you passed up on, perhaps using that money as a down payment on your next property instead.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“I view myself as an average Joe. I don’t have to have a fancy car. I don’t have to have the greatest TV,” said Shilling, who is 58.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

There’s a fancy name for this: solar geoengineering.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Now, that’s Liz’s role—she’s at the table with headphones on, glued to her phone while drinking coffee and eating her fancy muesli.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

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