fawn

¹ American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

noun

1. a young deer, especially an unweaned one.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

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adjective

1. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

fawn ² American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior.

   The courtiers fawned over the king.

   Synonyms:

   kowtow, flatter, truckle, toady

2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

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fawn ¹ British  

/ fɔːn /

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year

2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a fawn raincoat

3. (of deer) pregnant

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verb

1. (of deer) to bear (young)

fawn ² British  

/ fɔːn /

verb

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering

2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

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Other Word Forms

• fawner noun
• fawning adjective
• fawningly adverb
• fawningness noun
• fawnlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of fawn¹

1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus

Origin of fawn²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian “to rejoice, make glad,” derivative of fægen “happy”; fain

Example Sentences

He has no siblings, no schoolmates and, after the death of the only other boy within walking distance, no friends—but he has Flag, an orphaned fawn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

This is not a preying tiger in the Indian jungle - but a happily mooching Dalmatian dog in Dagnam Park, Romford, unknowingly closing in on a days-old fallow deer fawn.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

He’s self-satisfied and loves to have people fawn over him, but his star is still nascent enough for Oliver to retain some naivete.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2025

The Ryde Hotel staff are desperately missing their favorite occupants — the gorgeous peacocks known to fawn about on the orchard-lined banks of the Sacramento River and mischievously wander through the hotel’s banquet hall.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025

She reminded Kit of a young fawn that had wandered near the house one morning.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Related Words

• crouch
• grovel