fond
1 Americanadjective
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having a liking or affection for (usually followed byof ).
to be fond of animals.
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loving; affectionate.
to give someone a fond look.
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excessively tender or overindulgent; doting.
a fond parent.
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cherished with strong or unreasoning feeling.
to nourish fond hopes of becoming president.
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Archaic. foolish or silly.
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Archaic. foolishly credulous or trusting.
- Synonyms:
- gullible
adjective
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predisposed (to); having a liking (for)
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loving; tender
a fond embrace
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indulgent; doting
a fond mother
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(of hopes, wishes, etc) cherished but unlikely to be realized
he had fond hopes of starting his own business
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archaic
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foolish
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credulous
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noun
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the background of a design, as in lace
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obsolete fund; stock
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of fond1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fond, fonned “foolish, silly” (past participle of fonnen “to be foolish”
Origin of fond2
First recorded in 1655–65; from French; see origin at fund
Explanation
To be fond of something is to like it. Sports fans are fond of sports. Oddly, this adjective can also mean foolish and silly. We're all fond of some things and people: the things and people we like. Being fond can mean anything from liking something a little ("I'm fond of that band") to be extremely, almost absurdly interested in something ("He's a little too fond of football"). This word sometimes implies foolishness and absurdity: almost like you love something so much that you've lost your mind. But usually being fond is a good thing: it just means you enjoy something.
Vocabulary lists containing fond
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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We Were Liars
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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:
“We were poor,” mom is fond of saying, “but we didn’t know we were poor.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
"I am proud to be Tajik first, and Muslim second," he is fond of repeating.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
She still holds fond memories of that heady achievement, including chatting with her idol, Roger Federer, at the Wimbledon Champions Ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
While speaking to Realtor.com about his move, he reflected on what he’ll miss most about his property and his fond memories of Las Vegas.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
“Honest, toiling Gurgi extends thanks and best wishes. Oh, yes, fond, obedient Gurgi will work hard...”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
Nat., fonds latin, No. 4270, fol. 125-8, 139.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II by Lea, Henry Charles
In the second place, he advised the book-lover to haunt the retreats of Libraires fripiers, et les vieux fonds et magasins.
From Books and Bookmen by Lang, Andrew
Cook two ox palates as in the last recipe, then take equal quantities of veal steak, sweetbread, calf's brains, equal quantities of mushrooms, fonds d'artichauds, and cocks' combs.
From The Cook's Decameron: a study in taste, containing over two hundred recipes for Italian dishes by Waters, W. G., Mrs.
In alienating the capital, they might stipulate à fonds perdu, as they thought best.
From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm
Some day, said our colleague, the infernal genius who directed those intrigues and le bailleur de fonds will be known.
From Biographies of Distinguished Scientific Men by Grant, Robert
Those fonder of Hawthorne the magical realist will have plenty to appreciate as well, not least of which that Donatello’s true ancestry—whether human or faun—is never definitively established.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Growing fonder and fonder of Maude, Harold shares with her that when he isn’t attending funerals for fun, he likes to go to demolition sites and scrap yards.
From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2026
You can sit this one out, and see if absence makes the sisters grow fonder of each other.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 27, 2025
A shorter distance apparently makes the heart grow fonder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2024
His voice softens when he talks about her—he is no longer the toughened leader of this compound, but an old man, reflecting on some fonder past.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
As I look back on my fondest memories savoring raita, I’m reminded less of its nutritional benefits and more of its taste.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2026
In your fondest dreams, what would you do if you could join the animals?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
In a personal tribute, Jacob recalled one of his fondest memories of his friend, from the night India won the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
Sir Billy has now released four limited edition works under his Born On A Rainy Day series, recalling some of the fondest memories from his life.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025
“With fondest thoughts on this, the day of your birth, Lady A.”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
