fairy
fairy Lexical Profile
fairy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A mythical being of folklore and romance, typically depicted as a tiny humanoid with wings and magical powers.
"The children built a tiny house out of twigs and moss, hoping a fairy would move into the garden."
(Offensive) A disparaging slang term used to describe an effeminate or homosexual man.
"The author strongly criticized the historical use of words like fairy as outdated and harmful."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'fairy' primarily refers to a magical creature in folklore, it carries a significant register trap as it is also used as a highly offensive and derogatory slur against gay men.
• Rhymes for fairy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'faerie' (illusion, magic, the realm of the fays), derived from 'fae' (fay) and the suffix '-erie', ultimately originating from Latin 'fata' (the Fates).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.