Jump To:

• fig
  fig

  noun

  any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Ficus, of the mulberry family, especially a small tree, F. carica, native to southwestern Asia, bearing a turbinate or pear-shaped fruit that is eaten fresh, preserved, or dried.
• fig.
  fig.

  abbreviation

  figurative.

fig

¹ American  

[fig] / fɪg /

noun

1. any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Ficus, of the mulberry family, especially a small tree, F. carica, native to southwestern Asia, bearing a turbinate or pear-shaped fruit that is eaten fresh, preserved, or dried.

2. the fruit of such a tree or shrub, or of any related species.

3. any of various plants having a fruit somewhat resembling this.

4. a contemptibly trifling or worthless amount; the least bit.

   His help wasn't worth a fig.

5. a gesture of contempt.

---

fig ² American  

[fig] / fɪg /

noun

1. dress or array.

   to appear at a party in full fig.

2. condition.

   to feel in fine fig.

---

fig. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. figurative.

2. figuratively.

3. figure; figures.

---

fig ¹ British  

/ fɪɡ /

noun

1. any moraceous tree or shrub of the tropical and subtropical genus Ficus , in which the flowers are borne inside a pear-shaped receptacle

2. the fruit of any of these trees, esp of F. carica , which develops from the receptacle and has sweet flesh containing numerous seedlike structures

3. any of various plants or trees having a fruit similar to this

4. a succulent plant, Mesembryanthemum edule , of southern Africa, having a capsular fruit containing edible pulp: family Aizoaceae

5. (used with a negative) something of negligible value; jot

   I don't care a fig for your opinion

6. Also: feg.  dialect a piece or segment from an orange

7. Also called: fico.  an insulting gesture made with the thumb between the first two fingers or under the upper teeth

---

fig ² British  

/ fɪɡ /

verb

1. to dress (up) or rig (out)

2. to administer stimulating drugs to (a horse)

---

noun

1. dress, appearance, or array (esp in the phrase in full fig )

2. physical condition or form

   in bad fig

fig. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. figurative(ly)

2. figure

---

fig Idioms  

1. see under not give a damn.

---

Etymology

Origin of fig¹

1175–1225; Middle English fige < Old French < Old Provençal figa < Vulgar Latin *fīca, for Latin fīcus

Origin of fig²

1685–95; earlier feague to liven, whip up < German fegen to furbish, sweep, clean; akin to fair ¹

Explanation

A fig is a flowering tree that grows in warm climates. The fruit that grows on a fig is also called a fig. The fig, or fig tree, is happiest in dry, sunny climates like those in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. The figs that grow on these trees is very sweet, with a green skin that ripens to a purple, brown, or yellowish color. An interesting quirk of the fig is that it needs a specific type of wasp for pollination in order to produce seeds. The Latin root of fig is ficus.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fig fig.

The backyard includes tiger fig trees, apple trees, and other edible plantings surrounding a swimming pool designed for year-round Southern California living.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Instead, it’s inspired by the famous fig tree metaphor from Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” where each plump and juicy fig, dangling deliciously on the branches, represents a different life path for the protagonist.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

They planted olive, fig and pomegranate trees in their garden and brought furniture back from the US from the Amish community in Pennsylvania: "That's something we cannot replace," he said.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Enter Digby, a handsome, quick-witted and wealthy enigma who smells faintly of fig.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026

I hang up and sit for a while in the pantry, staring at the jars of fig preserves Constantine put up before the fig tree died.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

“There! Now I have made you solemn again. I should put a curb on my tongue. Here, take the fig. That should cheer you.”

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

“I don’t have just one fig. I have a whole figment.”

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

“It’s not granola. It’s fig. Do you want me to throw up?”

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

This was practised before Sebastopol in the manner shown in the fig. p.

From The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries by Sir Francis Galton

How is this, fig. b? you despise it? so absurdly simple?

From Stained Glass Work A text-book for students and workers in glass by C. W. Whall