fudge

[ fuhj ]

/ fʌdʒ /

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noun

a soft candy made of sugar, butter, milk, chocolate, and sometimes nuts.

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Origin of fudge

An Americanism dating to 1895–1900; of uncertain origin; the word was early in its history associated with female college campuses, where fudge-making was popular; however, attempts to explain it as a derivative of fudge² (preparing the candy supposedly being an excuse to “fudge” on dormitory rules) are dubious and probably after-the-fact speculation

Words nearby fudge

fud, fuddle, fuddle-duddle, fuddling cup, fuddy-duddy, fudge, fudge factor, Fuegian, fuel, fuel air bomb, fuel cell

Other definitions for fudge (2 of 3)

fudge²

[ fuhj ]

/ fʌdʒ /

verb (used without object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to cheat (often followed by on): How many of you have fudged on your taxes?

to fail to fulfill an obligation: For a variety of reasons, they had fudged on their promise.

to avoid coming to grips with a subject, issue, etc.: He fudged on the matter of whether he would retire at the end of his three-year term.

to tamper with or misrepresent something, as to produce a desired result or allow leeway for error: Some of the men and women fudged on their ages.

verb (used with object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to avoid coming to grips with (a subject, issue, etc.); evade; dodge: He fudged a few of the direct questions.

to tamper with or misrepresent: The suggestion is that they simply fudged the figures to make sales look more impressive.

noun Printing.

a small stereotype or a few lines of specially prepared type, bearing a newspaper bulletin, for replacing a detachable part of a page plate without the need to replate the entire page.

the bulletin thus printed, often in color.

a machine or attachment for printing such a bulletin.

Origin of fudge

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain; in earliest sense, “to contrive clumsily,” perhaps expressive variant of fadge “to fit, agree, do” (akin to Middle English feien, Old English fēgan “to fit together, join, bind”); fudge¹ and fudge³ are developments of this word or are independent coinages

Other definitions for fudge (3 of 3)

fudge³

[ fuhj ]

/ fʌdʒ /

noun

nonsense or foolishness (often used as an interjection).

verb (used without object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to talk nonsense.

Origin of fudge

First recorded in 1690–1700; of uncertain origin; cf. fudge²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use fudge in a sentence

The “Change Is Brewing” flavor — comprising cold brew coffee ice cream with marshmallows and fudge brownies — aims to help “transform the nation’s approach to public safety,” the company said in support of the legislation.
Ben & Jerry’s new ice cream flavor supports Rep. Cori Bush’s ‘People’s Response Act’ policing bill|Adela Suliman|September 21, 2021|Washington Post
Cars lined up for miles behind the Trenton Bridge that links Mount Desert Island to the mainland, crawling past fudge shops, lobster pounds, weed dispensaries, motels and antique stores.
Don’t call it relaxation. On this Maine island, vacation is for rusticating.|Jen Rose Smith|September 10, 2021|Washington Post
Mississippi’s pie, a chocolate graham cracker crust, pumped with chocolate fudge and covered in fluffy whipped cream and chocolate shavings, went to Rachel, who Fong met during a hazy night of Karaoke the day she graduated college.
Where There’s Pie, There’s Hope|Elazar Sontag|September 1, 2021|Eater
A sweet licorice fudge called Kick was my favorite, and I preferred my salty licorice as a lozenge with a powder heart — Tyrkisk Peber is a classic example of salmiakki, the Finnish salty licorice.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Licorice|Jessica Furseth|August 24, 2021|Eater

A mountain of whipped cream hides ice cream veined with what tastes like fudge in a nutty sundae.
Glover Park Grill woos its neighborhood with all-American cooking|Tom Sietsema|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
And the hot fudge is some of the best anywhere – thick and glossy black, just minimally sweet.
Dr. Mike’s Makes the Best Ice Cream on Earth|Jane & Michael Stern|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rather, I'm just incensed by those who fudge its ability beyond all recognition.
Note to Drivers: All Wheel Drive Does Not Give You Superpowers, Just a Dangerous Overconfidence|Megan McArdle|March 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But what I suspect he was trying to fudge before the residency panel was, indeed, his residency.
Bain and the F-Word|Michael Tomasky|July 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And why is this guy always trying fudge something or another?
Bain and the F-Word|Michael Tomasky|July 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The religious messages in the April holidays are pointed, unequivocal, impossible to fudge.
Why There’s No ‘War on Easter’: Its Unequivocally Religious Message|Michael Medved|April 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"Fudge on your everlasting knitting," said Sal, snatching the sock from Mary's hands and making the needles fly nimbly.
The English Orphans|Mary Jane Holmes
They opened the packages of luncheon and ate with ravenous appetites, finishing off with fudge and cheese sticks.
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days|Nell Speed
"Here, eat this and stop quarreling," interrupted Molly, thrusting a plate of fudge before them.
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days|Nell Speed
Donald smiled to himself at the thought of the hard-case Bluenose mate having a penchant for chocolate “fudge.”
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
If mother happened to be out of chocolate, which sometimes occurred, Betsey made a fudge with cocoa or coffee.
A Little Candy Book for a Little Girl|Amy L. Waterman

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (1 of 3)

fudge¹

/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

a soft variously flavoured sweet made from sugar, butter, cream, etc

Word Origin for fudge

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (2 of 3)

fudge²

/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

foolishness; nonsense

interjection

a mild exclamation of annoyance

verb

(intr) to talk foolishly or emptily

Word Origin for fudge

C18: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (3 of 3)

fudge³

/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

a small section of type matter in a box in a newspaper allowing late news to be included without the whole page having to be remade

the box in which such type matter is placed

the late news so inserted

a machine attached to a newspaper press for printing this

an unsatisfactory compromise reached to evade a difficult problem or controversial issue

verb

(tr) to make or adjust in a false or clumsy way

(tr) to misrepresent; falsify

to evade (a problem, issue, etc); dodge; avoid

Word Origin for fudge

C19: see fadge

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

fudge

Origin of fudge

Words nearby fudge

Other definitions for fudge (2 of 3)

Origin of fudge

Other definitions for fudge (3 of 3)

Origin of fudge

Words related to fudge

How to use fudge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (1 of 3)

Word Origin for fudge

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (2 of 3)

Word Origin for fudge

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (3 of 3)

Word Origin for fudge