fancy
fancy
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "fancy" is /ˈfæn.si/.
fan: /ˈfæn/
cy: /si/
Word Form Variations
Noun: fancy (singular), fancies (plural)
Verb: fancy (base form), fancies (third person singular present), fancied (past tense, past participle), fancying (present participle)
Adjective: fancy
Adverb: fancifully (derived from the adjective "fanciful," which is related to "fancy")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Fancy
A whimsical notion or idea; a sudden whim or brief inclination.
Synonyms: whim, notion, impulse, caprice, vagary, daydream
Antonyms: certainty, fact, reality, necessity, practicality
Taste or liking for something; preference.
Synonyms: preference, liking, fondness, inclination, partiality
Antonyms: dislike, aversion, distaste, hatred
The faculty of imagination, especially in its lighter and more whimsical forms.
Synonyms: imagination, fantasy, creativity, invention
Antonyms: reality, fact, truth, reason
Verb
Fancy
To feel a liking or desire for; to wish for.
Synonyms: like, desire, wish for, crave, long for, take to
Antonyms: dislike, detest, loathe, abhor, scorn
To imagine or believe something, often without much evidence.
Synonyms: imagine, believe, suppose, think, reckon, conceive
Antonyms: know, ascertain, confirm, prove, verify
To be attracted to (someone romantically).
Synonyms: be attracted to, have a crush on, be keen on (informal)
Antonyms: repel, dislike, be indifferent to
Adjective
Fancy
Elaborate in structure or decoration; highly ornamental.
Synonyms: ornate, elaborate, decorative, intricate, showy, luxurious
Antonyms: plain, simple, unadorned, utilitarian, basic
(Of a price or cost) excessively high.
Synonyms: exorbitant, expensive, high, costly, steep (informal)
Antonyms: cheap, inexpensive, low, affordable
(Of food or drink) of high quality or gourmet.
Synonyms: gourmet, exquisite, high-end, refined, luxurious
Antonyms: plain, ordinary, basic, common
Examples of Use
Books
Cookbooks: Many recipes, particularly for desserts or special occasions, might be titled "Fancy Cupcakes" or require "fancy sugar decorations" (Betty Crocker, October 2023).
Children's Books: Characters might attend a "fancy dress party" or imagine a "fancy castle."
Fiction: Authors often describe settings or characters as "fancy." "She wore a rather fancy hat to the race." A character might "fancy a walk" or "fancy their chances" of winning.
Newspapers
Advertisements: Ads for restaurants often describe them as offering a "fancy dining experience." Retailers might advertise "fancy imported chocolates" (The Wall Street Journal, February 2025).
Lifestyle Sections: Articles might give tips on "how to set a fancy table for a dinner party" or explore "fancy trends in home decor."
Gossip Columns: These might report on celebrities attending a "fancy gala event."
Online Publications
Fashion/Beauty Blogs: Bloggers frequently showcase "fancy outfits" for special occasions or review "fancy skincare products." "Here are five ways to make your everyday look more fancy."
Food Blogs/Recipes: Recipes for elaborate dishes are often labeled "fancy" or "gourmet." "This is a fancy pasta dish that's surprisingly easy."
E-commerce Sites: Product descriptions often use "fancy" to denote premium or decorative items, such as "fancy glassware" or "fancy gift wrapping options."
Social Media: Users might post photos of a "fancy meal" they cooked or a "fancy vacation spot."
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies/TV Shows: Characters in period dramas might wear "fancy costumes." A character might express a desire, "Do you fancy a cup of tea?" or observe something, "That's a fancy car you've got there."
Video Games: Games might feature "fancy new graphics settings" or offer "fancy character customization options." Players might unlock "fancy armor sets."
Music: Song lyrics sometimes use "fancy" to describe luxury or desire. "She's got a fancy car and a diamond ring."
Reality TV: Shows about home renovation or cooking often highlight "fancy upgrades" or "fancy culinary techniques."
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In daily speech, people might describe a restaurant as "fancy," or something as costing a "fancy price." "I don't fancy going out tonight; I'm too tired." "Do you fancy him?" (meaning, are you attracted to him).
Workplace: Colleagues might joke about a "fancy new coffee machine" in the breakroom.
Parties/Events: Invitations might specify "dressing up for a fancy occasion."
Personal Preferences: "I don't fancy doing that," indicating a lack of desire.
10 Quotes Using Fancy
"I fancy that for any man who can be called a man, a good life must be a hard life." (George Orwell, Such, Such Were the Joys)
"What a lovely thing to be a poet, just to sit there and let your fancy wander." (Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway)
"Every man has his own fancy; he makes his own Heaven and Hell." (Sir Thomas Browne, Religio Medici)
"Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for an unbeautiful thing. And, unless the artist has a certain flair, a certain fancy, it will not be beautiful." (Rudyard Kipling, From Sea to Sea)
"If you fancy yourself a master, you must first master yourself."
"The human spirit often loves to fancy what lies beyond the stars."
"She possessed a vibrant fancy that painted worlds no one else could see."
"Some people simply don't fancy stepping outside their comfort zones."
"It's easy to fancy grand ideas, but harder to bring them into reality."
"His reserved nature often concealed a restless and imaginative fancy."
Etymology
The word "fancy" comes from the Old French word "fantasie," which itself derived from the Greek word "phantasia," meaning "imagination," "appearance," or "ghost." 👻 It's about something appearing to the mind.
The first known use of "fancy" in English, as a shortened form of "fantasy," dates back to the late 14th century. It originally referred to "imagination" or "whimsical invention." Over time, its meaning broadened to include a strong liking or desire for something, and later, something elaborate or decorative, all stemming from that initial idea of what one "imagines" or "fancies" in their mind.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fancy
Fancy a bit of...: To have a desire or liking for something. "Do you fancy a bit of chocolate?"
Take a fancy to: To develop a liking or preference for someone or something. "He really took a fancy to the new puppy."
Catch one's fancy: To attract someone's interest or imagination. "The colorful painting immediately caught her fancy."
Fancy dress: Elaborate or unusual clothing worn for a party, often representing a character. "They all wore fancy dress to the Halloween party."
Fancy that!: An exclamation of surprise or mild astonishment. "He won the lottery? Well, fancy that!"
Just a fancy: Merely an idea or whim, not based on reality. "It was just a fancy; I knew it wouldn't happen."
Fancy oneself: To have an exaggerated opinion of one's own abilities or importance. "He fancies himself quite the singer."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fancy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
