fancy

1 of 3

verb

fan·​cy ˈfan(t)-sē 

fancied; fancying

transitive verb

1

: to have a fancy (see fancy entry 2 sense 1) for : like

He's all right, I suppose, but I can't say that I fancy him.

2

: to form a conception of : imagine

fancy our embarrassment

Just fancy my surprise when I heard that he was getting married.

3

a

: to believe mistakenly or without evidence

b

: to believe without being certain

she fancied she had met him before

real or fancied wrongs

4

: to visualize or interpret as

fancied myself a child again

fancy

2 of 3

noun

plural fancies

1

a

: a liking formed by caprice rather than reason : inclination

took a fancy to the mutt

b

: amorous fondness : love

She took a fancy to the young man.

2

a

: notion, whim

b

: an image or representation of something formed in the mind

3

archaic : fantastic quality or state

4

a

: imagination especially of a capricious or delusive sort

His plans to build a new stadium are the product of pure fancy.

b

: the power of conception and representation used in artistic expression (as by a poet)

5

: taste, judgment

a person of delicate fancy

6

a

: devotees of some particular art, practice, or amusement

b

: the object of interest of such a fancy

especially : boxing entry 1

fancy

3 of 3

adjective

fancier; fanciest

1

: dependent or based on fancy : whimsical

2

a(1)

: not plain : ornamental

a fancy hairdo

(2)

: swank sense 2, posh

a fancy restaurant

b(1)

: of particular excellence or highest grade

fancy tuna

(2)

: impressive

posted some fancy numbers

c

of an animal or plant : bred especially for bizarre or ornamental qualities that lack practical utility

3

: based on conceptions of the fancy

fancy sketches

4

a

: dealing in fancy goods

b

: extravagant

paying fancy prices

5

: executed with technical skill and style

fancy footwork

fancy diving

6

: parti-color

fancy carnations

fancily

ˈfan(t)-sə-lē 

adverb

fanciness

ˈfan(t)-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• conceit [chiefly dialect]
• conceive
• conjure (up)
• dream
• envisage
• envision
• fantasize
• fantasy
• feature
• ideate
• image
• imagine
• picture
• see
• vision
• visualize

Noun

• chimera
• conceit
• daydream
• delusion
• dream
• fantasy
• phantasy
• figment
• hallucination
• illusion
• nonentity
• phantasm
• fantasm
• pipe dream
• unreality
• vision

Adjective

• complex
• complicated
• detailed
• elaborate
• intricate
• involved
• sophisticated

Choose the Right Synonym for fancy

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of.

think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation

envisioned a cure for the disease

Examples of fancy in a Sentence

Verb

Which horse do you fancy in the Derby?

try to fancy, if you can, our mother on an elephant when she was touring India

Noun

His plans to build a new stadium are the product of pure fancy.

Critics have dismissed his plan as mere fancy.

Adjective

He drives a big, fancy car.

we're having a little get-together after the concert—nothing fancy

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There’s a decent chance of success; the North London team is better than semi-final opponent Bodo/Glimt and would fancy its chances against Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

In simple terms, the manager either did not fancy risking his striker’s fitness or did not fancy him full-stop, preferring Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe. —Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Noun

While the flashy, often unusual Alienware design won’t be for everyone, the HP Omen Max's more low-key appearance may tickle your fancy. —Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025

Benedictine Sandwiches If a heavy Hot Browns isn’t your jam, especially on a warm spring day, the Derby has another traditional sandwich that may better suit your fancy. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025

Adjective

High-profile former cable anchors—including Joy Reid, axed from MSNBC (to Maddow’s dismay) during the same programming reshuffle that saw Psaki elevated—have found an audience by posting independently to Substack, stripped of the bells and whistles of a fancy studio. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 9 May 2025

These are lessons that served me well as a young parent and brought more joy and stability into my family life than a fancy, expensive trip ever could. —Joshua Becker, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fantasien, fantesien, fancyen "to plan, devise, create, form (an idea), imagine (something false), desire," in part derivative of fantasie, fantsy, fansey fancy entry 2, in part borrowed from Middle French fantasier "to imagine, invent," verbal derivative of fantasie fantasy entry 1

Noun

Middle English fantasie, fantsy, fansey "the imagination as a faculty, mental image produced by this faculty, deluded notion, figment of the imagination, preference directed by caprice rather than reason, liking" — more at fantasy entry 1

Note: The disyllabic form, a rare variant of fantasie fantasy entry 1 in Middle English, became more common and began to separate in sense from fantasie/fantasy in early Modern English.

Adjective

from attributive use of fancy entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fancy

• catch someone's fancy
• fancy Dan
• fancy dress
• fancy-free
• fancy man
• fancy oneself
• fancy-pants
• fancy that
• fancy up
• fancy woman
• flight of fancy/imagination/fantasy
• passing fancy
• strike someone's fancy
• take a fancy to
• take someone's fancy
• tickle someone's fancy

Rhymes for fancy

• chancy
• dancy
• fiancee
• necromancy

Kids Definition

fancy

1 of 3 verb

fancied; fancying

1

: to have a fancy for : like

2

: to form a mental image of : imagine

fancy

2 of 3 noun

fan·​cy

ˈfan(t)-sē

plural fancies

1

: liking

took a fancy to the stray dog

2

: notion, whim

a passing fancy

3

: imagination

fancy

3 of 3 adjective

fancier; fanciest

1

: based on fancy : unpredictable

2

a

: not plain : ornamental

b

: of particular excellence

c

: bred especially for a showy appearance

a fancy goldfish

3

: done with great skill and grace

fancy footwork

fancily

ˈfan(t)-sə-lē 

adverb

fanciness

-sē-nəs 

noun