fantasy

noun fan·ta·sy \ ˈfan-tə-sē , -zē \

variants: or less commonly phantasy

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: fantasy in a Sentence

Definition of fantasy

plural fantasies

1 obsolete : hallucination

2 : fancy; especially : the free play of creative imagination

3 : a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: such as

a : a fanciful design or invention

a fantasy of delicate tracery

b : a chimerical or fantastic notion

His plans are pure fantasy.

c : fantasia 1

the organ fantasy of Johannes Brahms

d : imaginative fiction featuring especially strange settings and grotesque characters

spent the summer reading fantasy

— called also fantasy fiction

4 : caprice

served to fulfill the king's fantasies

5 : the power or process of creating especially unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need

an object of fantasy

; also : a mental image or a series of mental images (such as a daydream) so created

sexual fantasies

6 often attributive : a coin usually not intended for circulation as currency and often issued by a dubious authority (such as a government-in-exile)

See fantasy defined for English-language learners

See fantasy defined for kids

Examples of fantasy in a Sentence

His plans are pure fantasy.
He can hardly tell the difference between fantasy and reality.
His plans are just fantasies.
Her fantasy is to be a film star.
His plans are the product of pure fantasy.
I spent my summer reading fantasies.

Recent Examples of fantasy from the Web

Fresh off his trip to the Class AA Eastern League All-Star Game, Brent Hershey, co-GM of BaseballHQ.com, is here to offer his advice and expertise from both a fantasy and an analytic point of view.

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Transcript: Brent Hershey fantasy baseball chat," 11 July 2018
These have been common themes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction over the decades, for about as long as those genres have existed.

— noel murray, The Verge, "The First Purge’s release makes this a good weekend to watch Battle Royale on Netflix," 6 July 2018
Embellished Braids Pulled back into a taut high pony, the closing statement braids—a perfect mix of balanced beading and extreme length—are at once fantasy and low-key utility.

— Vogue, "Dior Just Served Up 5 Striking Hair Ideas for the July Fourth Weekend," 2 July 2018
After a time, VR even showed up on four-quadrant TV like Murder She Wrote and Mad About You, a perfect symbol of fantasy and the future.

— peter rubin, WIRED, "VR Is Back in Pop Culture—As a Warning," 29 June 2018
Among patients who make videos, such fantasies of agency and escape are popular.

— andy newman, New York Times, "Live, From the Children’s Ward," 29 June 2018
There’s this fantasy and life and work and they just both meld together.

— spencer whaley, Town & Country, "The Secret Life of Cecil Beaton, the Royal Family's Favorite Photographer," 28 June 2018
The Black towns in the Black Belt are now dumping grounds—of fantasies and waste.

— danielle jackson, Longreads, "Alabama’s History Haunts, But It Also Instructs," 27 June 2018
The outdoor wedding, stuff of girlhood fantasy and bridal-magazine photography, has long been off-limits to most Catholics.

— julie zauzmer, chicagotribune.com, "Catholics can get married outdoors in two places: In Montana, and now in Baltimore," 16 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of fantasy

Middle English fantasie — more at fancy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

fantasy Synonyms

fantasy

verb

Definition of fantasy

fantasied; fantasying

: fantasize

Examples of fantasy in a Sentence

she regularly fantasies sexual encounters that she knows will never happen

Recent Examples of fantasy from the Web

Who can fantasy owners find to take Hoskins' place?

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Fantasy baseball chat with Brent Hershey: Thursday at noon ET," 30 May 2018
From fantasy hot commodity to fantasy goat in the span of a week, Henry did not see much time on the field, rushing just six times for 7 yards vs. the stout Texans defense.

— tony holm, USA TODAY, "Fantasy sizzlers and fizzlers: Deshaun Watson does it all," 2 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of fantasy

see ¹fantasy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

fantasy Synonyms

Synonyms

conceive, conjure (up), dream, envisage, envision, fancy, fantasize, feature, ideate, image, imagine, picture, see, vision, visualize;

Related Words

daydream, stargaze;

hallucinate;

re-create, reflect, relive, reminisce;

contemplate, meditate, muse, ponder, ruminate;

concoct, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, plan, project;

foresee, prefigure;

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

fantasy

adjective

Definition of fantasy

: of, relating to, or being a game in which participants create and manage imaginary teams consisting of players from a particular sport and scoring is based on the statistical performances of the actual players

fantasy football

Recent Examples of fantasy from the Web

Of the group, Verdugo and Pederson probably offer the most fantasy appeal, since Hernandez is a .207/.264/.333 career hitter against right-handed pitching.

— brian rudd, USA TODAY, "Injuries give young players opportunity," 9 May 2018
And if there’s anything fantasy baseball owners don’t like, it’s uncertainty.

— steve gardner, USA TODAY, "Fantasy baseball: Spring training brings uncertainty for owners," 6 Mar. 2018
And that brings us to Kelce’s biggest fantasy nemesis: Alex Smith.

— john paulsen, SI.com, "After Rob Gronkowski, Should I Draft Travis Kelce or Jordan Reed in Fantasy Football?," 19 Aug. 2017
The rankings reflect overall fantasy value in a standard 12-team, point-per-reception (PPR) league.

— usa today sports, The Courier-Journal, "Fantasy football rankings: Top 200 for 2017," 31 July 2017
According to Mr. Adams, the agents questioned him about the nature of his addiction and how fantasy sports ads had affected him.

— walt bogdanich, james glanz and jacqueline williams, New York Times, "Fantasy Sites Are Dealt New Rebuff by Citigroup," 5 Feb. 2016

First Known Use of fantasy

1984

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

FANTASY Defined for English Language Learners

fantasy

noun

Definition of fantasy for English Language Learners

: something that is produced by the imagination : an idea about doing something that is far removed from normal reality
: the act of imagining something
: a book, movie, etc., that tells a story about things that happen in an imaginary world

FANTASY Defined for Kids

fantasy

noun fan·ta·sy \ ˈfan-tə-sē , -zē \

Definition of fantasy for Students

plural fantasies

1 : imagination 1

The plan was a product of pure fantasy.

2 : something produced by the imagination

His fantasy is to win a million dollars.

Medical Dictionary

fantasy

noun fan·ta·sy

variants: also phantasy play \ˈfant-ə-sē, -zē\

medical Definition of fantasy

plural fantasies

: the power or process of creating especially unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need

an object of fantasy

; also : a mental image or a series of mental images (as a daydream) so created

sexual fantasies of adolescence

fantasy

verb

variants: also phantasy

medical Definition of fantasy

fantasied; fantasying

: fantasize

Learn More about fantasy

See words that rhyme with fantasy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fantasy Spanish Central: Translation of fantasy Nglish: Translation of fantasy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fantasy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fantasy

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fantasy

Definition of fantasy

Examples of fantasy in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of fantasy

fantasy Synonyms

Synonyms

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Near Antonyms

Related Words

fantasy

Definition of fantasy

Examples of fantasy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fantasy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fantasy

fantasy Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Psychology Terms

fantasy

Definition of fantasy

Recent Examples of fantasy from the Web

First Known Use of fantasy

Phrases Related to FANTASY

Related Phrases

FANTASY Defined for English Language Learners

fantasy

Definition of fantasy for English Language Learners

FANTASY Defined for Kids

fantasy

Definition of fantasy for Students

Medical Dictionary

fantasy

medical Definition of fantasy

fantasy

medical Definition of fantasy

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