Synonyms

fondness

American

[fond-nis] / ˈfɒnd nɪs /

noun

the state or quality of being fond.
tenderness or affection.
doting affection.
a liking or weakness for something.

He has a fondness for sweets.

Synonyms:

preference, partiality, predilection
Archaic. complacent credulity; foolishness.

Other Word Forms

self-fondness noun

Etymology

Origin of fondness

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; see origin at fond ¹, -ness

Explanation

Fondness is love or affection for someone. Your fondness for your funny Spanish teacher might be part of what inspires you to work hard in his class. When you have a fondness for a person, you feel warm or tender toward them. Your sister's fondness for young children probably makes her a great babysitter. You can also have a fondness for a thing: your friend's fondness for expensive shoes could cause her constant financial difficulty, and your fondness for cupcakes might influence you to learn how to bake.

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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.

Movie versions of video games lack that interactivity, hoping your fondness for character and scenario are enough.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Yet, in another sense, it just extends a sequence neither Sancho nor United can look back on with any fondness.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

Ms. Aitchison’s frequent collaborator Finn Keane handles most of the production, and the pair’s fondness for hyper-processed computerized arrangements is fleshed out with a large string section.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

This isn’t just my fondness for lists revealing itself.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

“Quibbler still going strong, then?” asked Harry, who felt a certain fondness for the magazine, having given it an exclusive interview the previous year.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023