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”; see fain

Explanation

A fawn is a young deer, but it's also a verb meaning to try and win favor by flattering. You might fawn over Bambi if you want to hang out with the cute and fuzzy gang. As a verb, fawn either refers to an attempt to get on someone’s good side, or, oddly enough, to give birth to a deer. If you're a human, fawning is an age-old art that might get you what you want but can be very unattractive. If you ever come into possession of a great fortune, watch out for sudden friends who want to fawn over you and shower you with presents. They probably have dollar signs in their eyes.

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

Some are catching up with old friends and co-stars, some are kissing their dates in plain sight and some fawn over the cool kids they haven’t yet met.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2024

We passed a family of rabbits grazing on clover; a groundhog; a deer and her fawn.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

Related Words

• crouch
• grovel