fringe
Americannoun
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a decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip.
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anything resembling or suggesting this.
a fringe of grass around a swimming pool.
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an outer edge; margin; periphery.
on the fringe of the art world.
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something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else.
the lunatic fringe of a strong political party.
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Optics. one of the alternate light and dark bands produced by diffraction or interference.
verb (used with object)
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to furnish with or as if with a fringe.
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to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe.
armed guards fringing the building.
noun
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an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc
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an outer edge; periphery
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( as modifier )
fringe dwellers
a fringe area
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(modifier) unofficial; not conventional in form
fringe theatre
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a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead
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an ornamental border or margin
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physics any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light
verb
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to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes
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to be a fringe for
fur fringes the satin
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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underfringenoun
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unfringeverb (used with object)
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fringelessadjective
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fringelikeadjective
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fringyadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fringesimple
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fringessimple
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have fringedperfect
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has fringedperfect
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am fringingprogressive
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are fringingprogressive
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is fringingprogressive
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have been fringingperfect progressive
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has been fringingperfect progressive
Past
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fringedsimple
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had fringedperfect
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was fringingprogressive
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were fringingprogressive
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had been fringingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fringe
1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French ( French frange ) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria, Latin fimbriae fringe
Explanation
If you make cutoffs from jeans, the little white strings around the edges of the legs make a fringe. A fringe is a decorative edge made of hanging strings of fabric. You know how fringe hangs on the edge of fabric and clothing? Think of this picture when you see fringe used metaphorically to mean something that is on the outer boundaries of something else. Many cities hold events called fringe festivals that celebrate art created on the fringe of the established art world. A group of people whose beliefs place them on the outskirts of a social group is called a fringe group. And beware of the lunatic fringe — they are the extremists and fanatics of a social or political movement.
Vocabulary lists containing fringe
The House on Mango Street
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Shear Genius: Hairy Vocabulary
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The One and Only Ivan
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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.
But this is a viable media enterprise that I’m really interested in for the sake of comedy and the opportunity for outsider or fringe comedy.
From Slate • Jul. 12, 2026
They are part of a loose community of boat people, all of whom are outcasts in some way, living on the fringe of London in 1961.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
But local plumber Kenyon's campaign was dogged by past offensive remarks about women, while the fringe hard-right Restore Britain party dented Reform's vote by snagging nearly 7 percent of returns.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Over the past year or so, fringe ideas have been commercialized for the mainstream.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
Dark blue pony beads hung down a swatch of fringe, and Fishtail touched them carefully and lovingly as he stepped quietly along.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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.
