fringe

[ frinj ]

/ frɪndʒ /

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See synonyms for: fringe / fringed / fringes / fringing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

anything resembling or suggesting this: a fringe of grass around a swimming pool.

an outer edge; margin; periphery: on the fringe of the art world.

something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else: the lunatic fringe of a strong political party.

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

fringe benefit.

verb (used with object), fringed, fring·ing.

to furnish with or as if with a fringe.

to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe: armed guards fringing the building.

OTHER WORDS FOR fringe

2 edge, border, skirt, rim.

See synonyms for fringe on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of fringe

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

OTHER WORDS FROM fringe

fringeless, adjectivefringelike, adjectivefringy, adjectiveun·der·fringe, noun

un·fringe, verb (used with object), un·fringed, un·fring·ing.

Words nearby fringe

frilling, frill-necked lizard, frilly, Frimaire, Friml, fringe, fringe area, fringe benefit, fringed gentian, fringed orchis, fringed polygala

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fringe in a sentence

In the outer fringes of the solar system, objects were so cold and slow-moving, apparently, that they could simply touch and stick together.
These Images Expose the Dark Side of the Solar System - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Corey S. Powell|August 26, 2020|Nautilus
Before the pandemic, Frailey knew a little bit about QAnon, but he hadn’t given such an easily debunked fringe theory much of his time.
Evangelicals are looking for answers online. They’re finding QAnon instead.|Abby Ohlheiser|August 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
If successful, they might not be on the fringes of American politics for much longer.
American Fringes: The Intellectual Dark Web Declares Its Independence|Nick Fouriezos|August 11, 2020|Ozy
Altogether, I’ve spent the fringes of three winters there — in 1991, 1995 to 1996, and 2007 to 2008.
He Found ‘Islands of Fertility’ Beneath Antarctica’s Ice|Steve Nadis|July 20, 2020|Quanta Magazine

Most of the deaths have occurred near the village of Seronga on the northern fringes of the Okavango Delta, a vast swampy inland region that hosts huge wildlife populations.
Scientists have some theories on why hundreds of elephants are mysteriously dying in Botswana|Vicky Boult|July 7, 2020|Quartz
The Five Percent Nation of Islam was there as well as fringe Stalinist groups.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
GALLERY: 'JUSTICE FOR ALL' MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC There were plenty of representatives of the fringe too.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, the chatter for the past year on the anti-gay fringe has been of resistance.
The Right Wing Screams for the Wambulance Over Gay Marriage Ruling|Walter Olson|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, Wolf's journey to the crackpot fringe was completed a long time ago.
From ISIS to Ebola, What Has Made Naomi Wolf So Paranoid?|Michael Moynihan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unlike Cosby, who had only a fringe of gray hair left, he still sported a silver mane.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius|Mark Whitaker|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These form one of the many island groups that hang like a fringe or festoon on the skirt of the continent of Asia.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
The crowd disposed itself on the fringe of the sward, and the duellists went forward, and set about the preparations.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The walls were covered with silk and velvet hangings, ornamented with gold fringe, while rich carpets were spread underfoot.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
The late Caleb Whitefoord, seeing a lady knotting fringe for a petticoat, asked her, what she was doing?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He was not a man to dodge trouble that might bring profit dangling to the fringe of her skirt.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for fringe

fringe

/ (frɪndʒ) /

noun

an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc

an outer edge; periphery
(as modifier)fringe dwellers; a fringe area

(modifier) unofficial; not conventional in formfringe theatre

mainly British a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead

an ornamental border or margin

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

verb (tr)

to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes

to be a fringe forfur fringes the satin

Derived forms of fringe

fringeless, adjective

Word Origin for fringe

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fringe

OTHER WORDS FOR fringe

Origin of fringe

OTHER WORDS FROM fringe

Words nearby fringe

Words related to fringe

How to use fringe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fringe

Derived forms of fringe

Word Origin for fringe