fantasia

noun fan·ta·sia \ fan-ˈtā-zhə , -zhē-ə , -zē-ə ; ˌfan-tə-ˈzē-ə \

|Updated on: 29 Jul 2018

Definition of fantasia

1 : a free usually instrumental composition not in strict form

2 a : a work (such as a poem or play) in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted

b : something possessing grotesque, bizarre, or unreal qualities

See fantasia defined for kids

Recent Examples of fantasia from the Web

Having lived in Florida during Hurricane Wilma in 2005, Mr. Robbins felt losing access to drinking water for weeks or even months was a plausible scenario—a contingency to plan for, not just some dystopian fantasia.

— jeff bercovici, WSJ, "The Upscale Way to Prepare for Doomsday—from $79,500 Teslas to $275 Jeans," 10 May 2018
Dietland — a sweeping fantasia that connects oppressive beauty standards and rape culture — opens with a montage of women hurting themselves to be beautiful: a woman sticking a finger down her throat, a razor blade slicing a breast.

— anna silman, The Cut, "Sharp Objects," 11 July 2018
Inspired by a childhood love of One Thousand and One Nights, the American architect came up with an orientalist, but not ahistorical, fantasia of waterfalls, bazaars, and museums, with statues of Harun al-Rashid and Aladdin.

— darran anderson, The Atlantic, "The Cities That Never Existed," 17 June 2018
With that in mind, Town & Country created a feast and a corresponding fashion fantasia the likes of which have never been seen before.

— max vadukul, Town & Country, "A Very Merry Band: When Fashion Meets the Feast," 28 Nov. 2017
Be they human or alien, everyone’s trying to score something in this seminal downtown punk fantasia, restored to optimum glitter-and-skeeze for a new century.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "10 movies to see in Chicago this summer," 2 May 2018
The movie is Steven Spielberg’s attempt to plug himself back into the zeitgeist with a rip-roaring, cutting-edge, virtual-reality action fantasia.

— michael andor brodeur, BostonGlobe.com, "The Weekender: Lost dogs, emo foxes, and Easter bunnies," 29 Mar. 2018
Garland and company create an intoxicatingly weird fantasia, beautifully photographed by Rob Hardy, that’s genuinely head spinning.

— jake coyle, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Annihilation’ is a trippy feast for the eyes and mind," 22 Feb. 2018
If the store seems like a luxury fantasia, that’s the point.

— cam wolf, GQ, "Bottega Veneta Bets That You Still Want to Shop in a Store," 11 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fantasia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.