fridge
Americannoun
-
fridges
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fridge
1925–30; by shortening of refrigerator or Frigidaire
Explanation
Fridge is short for refrigerator, that giant kitchen appliance that keeps food cold. If you’re too hungry to say five syllables, just say you’re going to see what’s in the fridge. Although fridge is a little word, a fridge can be anything from a regular-sized refrigerator to one of those little mini-fridges that live in a dorm room or man cave. Fridge sounds like frigid, which means very cold. The colloquial fridge has been around since the mid-1920s, possibly inspired by the well-known refrigerator brand Frigidaire.
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:
Sometimes I mix fats, which is wholly unnecessary but can feel strangely luxe when you’re otherwise scrapping it out with the last tablespoons of whatever is left in the fridge.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
The chip shop fridge is filled with Irn Bru and other AG Barr brands.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
One robot tidied cupboards and wiped surfaces, while others put orange juice and milk in the fridge, threw away empty packaging and loaded the dishwasher.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
“Snack time!” he says, getting up from the table and heading to the fridge.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Old British fridges 'cannot cope with the heat'
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Carpets, washing machines, furniture, fridges and even knives, forks and spoons are set to have tariffs applied by Canada.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Meanwhile, the fridges themselves have been made more energy efficient.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Extreme heat can make energy processes less efficient and lead to a spike in electricity demand as people increase their use of air conditioning, freezers and fridges.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
He must have one of those brilliant fridges that do everything.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
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.
