fanciful

adjective fan·ci·ful \ˈfan(t)-si-fəl\

: coming from the imagination

: showing imagination : unusual and appealing

Full Definition of FANCIFUL

: marked by fancy or unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience <a fanciful person>

: existing in fancy only <a fanciful notion>

: marked by or as if by fancy or whim <gave their children fanciful names>

— fan·ci·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

— fan·ci·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

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See fanciful defined for kids

First Known Use of FANCIFUL

circa 1627

Related to FANCIFUL

Synonyms: absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, unreal, wild

Antonyms: realistic, reasonable

Synonym Discussion of FANCIFUL

imaginary, fanciful, visionary, fantastic, chimerical, quixotic mean unreal or unbelievable. imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination <an imaginary desert isle>. fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination <a teller of fanciful stories>. visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization <visionary schemes>. fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief <a fantastic world inhabited by monsters>. chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic <chimerical dreams of future progress>. quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense <a quixotic crusade>.

FANCIFUL Defined for Kids