fad

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish adjective
faddishly adverb
faddishness noun
faddism noun
faddist noun
faddy adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for fad

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of fad in a Sentence

Noun (1) She's always interested in the latest fads. once the fad for that kind of music had passed, nobody would have been caught dead listening to it
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Perhaps initially dismissed as a resurging fad a few years ago, the Espresso Martini has solidified itself as one of the most in-demand cocktails, full stop. Rachel King, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 The no-mascara and non-black mascara trend may be more than just a fad. Marci Robin, Allure, 1 Oct. 2024 But the French bag maker can afford to take risks—it’s proven to have a robust business model built on its classic, timeless products that have endured through fads. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 26 Sep. 2024 Turns out, the ingredient is less a fad, but a critical component of our bodies. Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fad 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1867, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fad was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near fad

Cite this Entry

“Fad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fad. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fad

noun
: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish adjective
faddist noun
faddy adjective

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on fad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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