Definition of fairy-tale
(Entry 1 of 2)
: characteristic of or suitable to a fairy tale
especially
: marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck, or happiness
led a fairy-tale life a store clerk's fairy-tale romance
fairy tale
nounDefinition of fairy tale (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins)
enjoyed the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid"
— called also fairy story
b
: a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending
those balletic fairy tales in which a new corps member steps in for an injured principal at the last minute and delivers a splendid performance— Margaret Willis
2
: a made-up story usually designed to mislead
an old-fashioned fairy tale depicting revolutionists as demigods— Jonathan Zimmerman
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for fairy-tale
The first known use of fairy-tale was in 1635
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