fountain

American  

[foun-tn] / ˈfaʊn tn /

noun

1. a spring or source of water; the source or head of a stream.

2. the source or origin of anything.

   Synonyms:

   wellspring, genesis, cradle, birthplace

3. a jet or stream of water (or other liquid) made by mechanical means to spout or rise from an opening or structure, as to afford water for use, to cool the air, or to serve for ornament.

4. a structure for discharging such a jet or a number of jets, often an elaborate or artistic work with basins, sculptures, etc.

5. drinking fountain.

6. soda fountain.

7. a reservoir for a liquid to be supplied gradually or continuously, as in a fountain pen.

8. Heraldry. a roundel barry-wavy, argent and azure.

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fountain British  

/ ˈfaʊntɪn /

noun

1. a jet or spray of water or some other liquid

2. a structure from which such a jet or a number of such jets spurt, often incorporating figures, basins, etc

3. a natural spring of water, esp the source of a stream

4. a stream, jet, or cascade of sparks, lava, etc

5. a principal source or origin

6. a reservoir or supply chamber, as for oil in a lamp

7. short for drinking fountain soda fountain

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fountainlike
  adjective
• fountain-like
  adjective
• unfountained
  adjective
• fountained
  adjective
• fountainless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of fountain

1375–1425; late Middle English fontayne < Old French fontaine < Late Latin fontāna, noun use of feminine of Latin fontānus of a spring, equivalent to font- (stem of fons ) spring + -ānus -an

Explanation

A fountain is a decorative structure that shoots streams of water into the air. You might see a big fountain in front of a museum, or install a small one in your back yard. You can use the noun fountain any time you talk about a shooting flow of water, whether it's a deliberate, artificial piece of architecture or an accidental fountain caused by the faucet in your kitchen sink breaking suddenly, sending a fountain of water into the air. The earliest, fifteenth century meaning of fountain was "spring of water that collects in a pool," from the Latin root word fons, "spring of water."

Example Sentences

I got a bird bath and then bought a solar water fountain to put in it.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

A further £4,225 was spent on a Montblanc Starwalker World Time fountain pen in March of that year, one of a number of pens purchased for four-figure amounts.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

In Washington, attorney David Sobel last month sued to find out how the interpretive sign about Senator Francis Griffith Newlands was removed from the fountain near his home.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

The Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen has been a favorite of leaders including King Charles and John F. Kennedy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

If I was going to make it to the fountain in half an hour and talk to my mom, I was going to have to hustle.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• geyser
• reservoir
• stream