fringe

[frinj]

noun

1. a decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip.

2. anything resembling or suggesting this.

   a fringe of grass around a swimming pool.

   Synonyms: rim, skirt, border, edge

3. an outer edge; margin; periphery.

   on the fringe of the art world.

4. something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else.

   the lunatic fringe of a strong political party.

5. Optics.,  one of the alternate light and dark bands produced by diffraction or interference.

6. fringe benefit.

verb (used with object)

fringed, fringing 

1. to furnish with or as if with a fringe.

2. to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe.

   armed guards fringing the building.

fringe

/ frɪndʒ /

noun

1. an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc

2. 1. an outer edge; periphery

   2. ( as modifier )

      fringe dwellers

      a fringe area

3. (modifier) unofficial; not conventional in form

   fringe theatre

4. a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead

5. an ornamental border or margin

6. physics any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light

verb

1. to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes

2. to be a fringe for

   fur fringes the satin

Other Word Forms

• fringeless adjective
• fringelike adjective
• fringy adjective
• underfringe noun
• unfringe verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of fringe¹

1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French ( French frange ) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria, Latin fimbriae fringe

Word History and Origins

Origin of fringe¹

C14: from Old French frenge , ultimately from Latin fimbria fringe, border; see _fimbria

Example Sentences

The project in Canary Wharf, the dockland-turned-financial center on the eastern fringe of the U.K. capital, is due to finish in the 2030s.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Charismatics emphasize practices that used to be fringe in American Christianity, such as “ideas of faith healing or miracles, prophecy, and the occult/demonic forces of opposition,” are normalizing as charismatic Christianity surges, he added.

Read more on Salon

Staying with family not only eliminates lodging fees, but cuts down on certain “fringe” costs.

Read more on MarketWatch

Gen. Avi Bluth, who heads the Israeli military command that oversees the West Bank, said the attacks by what he called “anarchist fringe youth” were unacceptable and extremely serious.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes may appear to play a major role in online youth culture, but in reality they represent a fringe group whose visibility is amplified by disproportionate media coverage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brink 
• edge 
• hem 
• outskirts 
• perimeter 
• periphery 
• skirt 
• verge