fay
noun
a fairy.
fay
1 American
[fay]
/ feɪ /
noun
fay
2
American
[fay]
/ feɪ /
noun
Obsolete.
fay
3
American
[fay]
/ feɪ /
noun
Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
Fay
4
American
[fay]
/ feɪ /
Or
Faye
noun
fay
1
British
/ feɪ /
noun
adjective
-
of or resembling a fay
-
informal pretentious or precious
fay
2
British
/ feɪ /
verb
fay
3
British
/ feɪ /
noun
Etymology
Origin of fay1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English faie, faie, from Middle French feie, fee, Old French fae, fee, ultimately from Latin Fāta Fate ( def. 6 )
Origin of fay2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fai, fei, from Anglo-French, variant of feid faith
Origin of fay3
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The police presence inside Dodger Stadium on opening fay was alarming.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2019
From Hurricane Frederic in 1979 to tropical storm fay, which ravaged Florida in late August, Americans affected by disaster have looked to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for aid.
From Time Magazine Archive
And makes us lift our arms to fay; A P. that thinks that we have got A pair of cltiekctis in each pot: A P. that's Dry in sovereign Maine, But intimately Wet as rain.
From Time Magazine Archive
He told her about the reports his father had received about creatures, possibly fay, entering the Kingdom in the north.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
But she did not know the fay were speaking her name, so she was spared the burden of becoming their hero, when in fact she still felt like a murderer.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
Orange Lutheran gains 6-5 tight end Hudson Ploog and linebacker Jamaal Fay, who started for two years at Leuzinger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Here, Fay Victor, a uniquely daring and creative singer, adorns her vocal with all manner of creaking, wailing, moaning and scatting, yet she maintains Bey’s feeling of directing a congregation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
"Michael Patrick's portrayal of Richard III in a now legendary production was one of the greatest performances ever on the Lyric stage," Fay said.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
In a statement Lyric's executive producer Jimmy Fay paid tribute to Campbell, saying: "These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star."
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
Fay is annoyed that I’ve stopped taking her out dancing, and she got angry and walked out on me last night.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
