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Definition of fanciful

fanciful

/ˈfæn.sɪ.fəl/
fan · ci · ful
Adverb:fancifully
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fanciful Lexical Profile

fanciful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Overly imaginative and unrealistic; existing only in the imagination rather than in reality.

Example

"The committee dismissed his proposal for a flying commuter train as a fanciful notion."

2

Showing playful, inventive, or whimsical design and ornamentation.

Example

"The garden was decorated with fanciful sculptures of woodland creatures and mythical beasts."

3

Guided by whim, daydreaming, or lively imagination rather than reason and experience (of a person).

Example

"As a fanciful child, she spent hours inventing elaborate stories about the clouds."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

fanboy
fanciable
fancier
fanciful
fancifully
fancifulness
fancify

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 17th century from the noun 'fancy' (a contraction of 'fantasy', from Ancient Greek 'phantasia' meaning 'imagination' or 'appearance') combined with the suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fanciful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fanciful
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