fiddle

1 of 2

noun

fid·​dle ˈfi-dᵊl 

1

: violin

2

: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship

3

: fiddlesticks

—used as an interjection

4

[fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle

see also:

play second fiddle

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ  ˈfid-liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to play on a fiddle

2

a

: to move the hands or fingers restlessly

b

: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker

fiddled around with the engine for hours

c

: meddle, tamper

d

: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something

fiddled with the thermostat

transitive verb

1

: to play (something) on a fiddle

fiddle a tune

2

: cheat, swindle

3

: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain

… accountants fiddling the books.

—Stanley Cohen

fiddler

ˈfi-dᵊl-ər 

ˈfid-lər

noun

Synonyms of fiddle

Noun

• nuts
• nonsense
• garbage
• jazz
• drool
• rubbish
• blah
• silliness
• stupidity
• muck
• beans
• bunk
• fudge
• fiddlesticks

Verb

• fidget
• toss
• twitch
• jerk
• squirm
• twist
• wiggle
• jig

Examples of fiddle in a Sentence

Noun

an expert with the fiddle

arrested for a tax fiddle

Verb

Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But Maguire and Strayer are felt as loudly as Maines across the record, through their gorgeous harmonies, but also fiddle and banjo and, sometimes, sitar and accordion. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026

The track also features Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Garry West on bass. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

The original Rowdy Rooster, a slim storefront on a scrappy East Village block, closed earlier this year, menu fiddling notwithstanding. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

The Fed's influence on credit and the economy is minimal; credit is produced by real-world productivity, not central bank fiddling. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English *fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere "fiddler"), going back to Germanic *fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin

Note: See note at viol.

Verb

Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing fiddle

• bass fiddle
• bull fiddle
• fiddle about
• fiddle around
• fiddle away
• fiddle-faddle
• fiddle-footed
• fiddle with
• fit as a fiddle
• play second fiddle
• second fiddle

Rhymes for fiddle

• diddle
• griddle
• middle
• riddle

Kids Definition

fiddle

1 of 2 noun

fid·​dle ˈfid-ᵊl 

: violin sense 1

fiddle

2 of 2 verb

fiddled; fiddling

ˈfid-liŋ, 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to play on a fiddle

2

a

: to move the hands or fingers restlessly

b

: to spend time in aimless activity

c

: meddle, tamper

fiddler

ˈfid-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun