Fancy: meaning, definitions and examples

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fancy

 

[ ˈfænsi ]

Adjective / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

clothing

elaborate in structure or decoration; of a high standard or quality

Synonyms

elaborate, elegant, luxurious, ornate

Examples of usage

  • She wore a fancy dress to the party.
  • The restaurant served fancy dishes for the special occasion.
  • The ballroom was decorated with fancy chandeliers and drapes.
Context #2 | Verb

imagine

to imagine or think about something

Synonyms

desire, imagine, think about

Examples of usage

  • I fancy a trip to the beach this weekend.
  • He fancies himself as a great chef.

Translations

Translations of the word "fancy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 chique

🇮🇳 शानदार (shandar)

🇩🇪 schick

🇮🇩 mewah

🇺🇦 модний

🇵🇱 szykowny

🇯🇵 おしゃれ (oshare)

🇫🇷 chic

🇪🇸 elegante

🇹🇷 şık

🇰🇷 화려한 (hwaryeohan)

🇸🇦 أنيق (aniq)

🇨🇿 nóbl

🇸🇰 nóbl

🇨🇳 华丽 (huálì)

🇸🇮 eleganten

🇮🇸 flottur

🇰🇿 сәнді (sändi)

🇬🇪 მოდური (moduri)

🇦🇿 zərif

🇲🇽 elegante

Etymology

The word 'fancy' originated from the Middle English word 'fantsien' which means 'to imagine'. Over time, it evolved to also mean 'elaborate' or 'high quality'. The usage of 'fancy' as an adjective to describe something as elaborate or of high quality became popular in the 18th century. As a verb, 'fancy' has been used to express desire or imagination since the 16th century.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,286, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.