newfangled

American  

[noo-fang-guhld, -fang-, nyoo-] / ˈnuˈfæŋ gəld, -ˌfæŋ-, ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. of a new kind or fashion.

   newfangled ideas.

2. fond of or given to novelty.

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newfangled British  

/ ˈnjuːˈfæŋɡəld /

adjective

1. newly come into existence or fashion, esp excessively modern

2. rare excessively fond of new ideas, fashions, etc

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Other Word Forms

• newfangledness noun

Etymology

Origin of newfangled

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, equivalent to newefangel “fond of or taken by what is new ”( newe new + -fangel, unattested Old English fangol “inclined to take,” equivalent to fang-, stem of fōn “to take” ( cf. fang ²) + -ol adjective suffix) + -ed ³

Explanation

Something newfangled is new, like a fancy new gadget or invention. This is a folksy way of describing a fashionable (and often too fashionable) thing. If someone says — “What is that newfangled thing?” — they’re using a humorous, casual word for things that are new, current, or fashionable — especially too-fashionable things. Using this word implies that the person isn’t very impressed with the newfangled thing, implying that it’s new for the sake of being new. This word is a little insulting, as in “Why do you always have to have a newfangled phone?” Calling something newfangled isn’t very respectful to the new thing.

Example Sentences

In June 1530 Hans Holbein the Younger was rounded up for being a truant from the Reformed Church and its newfangled Eucharist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Arm’s ambitious revenue targets, partly driven by its newfangled chip business, also underpin the stock upgrade.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

For more than a decade, Silicon Valley venture capitalists have poured enormous sums of money into newfangled technology companies seeking to disrupt, and even supplant, the traditional financial system and sidestep its burdensome regulations.

From Salon • Nov. 10, 2025

And right now, nothing is cooler than the newfangled torpedoes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025

Samuel and his boys brought in a well at forty feet and put down the newfangled expensive metal casing, for Adam wanted the best.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck