plural fairies
1
: a mythical being of folklore and romance usually having diminutive human form and magic powers
2
slang, offensive : a gay person
used as a term of abuse and disparagement
fairy adjective
fairylike adjective

Examples of fairy in a Sentence

fairies are part of the folklore of many countries and cultures
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And then Justin came in and sprinkled fairy dust on it all. Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 But also fey and fairies and blah blah blah. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 But the anguished mother cursed the fairy for the loss of her sons, and her wails of despair echoed from mountaintop to mountaintop. Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 But stealing the show was the family matriarch, Kris Jenner, 69, who dressed as a woodland fairy for the occasion in a green sparkly, floral mini dress and fairy wings, while Khloé herself wore an animal print onesie. Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 The color-changing micro fairy LEDs were incredibly easy to activate. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025 Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025 Erivo will voice Jayne Staplegun, a trailblazing fairy whose defiant streak sparks a rebellion. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 Dressed as a hot pink fairy, Alexa Bowers brought a drawing of Roan to give to the pop star. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fairie fairyland, enchantment, from Anglo-French faerie, from fee fairy, from Latin Fata, goddess of fate, from fatum fate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fairy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairy. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

fairy

noun
ˈfa(ə)r-ē How to pronounce fairy (audio)
ˈfe(ə)r-
plural fairies
: an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magic powers
fairy adjective
fairylike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on fairy

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