fond

1 of 3

adjective

ˈfänd 

1

a

: prizing highly : desirous

—used with of

fond of praise

b

: having an affection or liking

—used with of

fond of music

fond of his nephew

2

a

: foolishly tender : indulgent sense 1

a fond mother

b

: affectionate, loving

absence makes the heart grow fonder

a fond embrace

3

: cherished with great affection : doted on

our fondest hopes

has fond memories of their time together

4

: foolish, silly

fond pride

fond

2 of 3

verb

fonded; fonding; fonds

intransitive verb

obsolete

: to lavish affection : dote

fond

3 of 3

noun

ˈfōⁿ 

plural fonds ˈfōⁿ(z) 

1

: background, basis

2

: small particles of browned food and especially meat that adhere to the bottom of a cooking pan and are used especially in making sauces

After searing the steak, we noted the amount of fond (the residue of browned meat that sticks to the pan), which can be deglazed for a rich, flavorful pan sauce.

—Garth Clingingsmith

3

obsolete : fund

Synonyms of fond

Adjective

• inclined
• attached
• partial

Examples of fond in a Sentence

Adjective

She still has fond feelings for him.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

He wished them a fond farewell.

the fond hope that the situation would change

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Late Show won for writing, short form comedy, picture editing, technical direction and camerawork, and lighting design — all a fond farewell to the show. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

And Vasseur does remember the fond feeling Monza, known as La Pista Magica or the ‘Temple of Speed,’ instilled in him. — Luke Smith, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

One fond memory of Telluride is once being trapped in a gondola with the often grumpy Mike Leigh. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026

Fort Worth native Pete Geren, a former congressman and secretary of the Army, is of the generation that perhaps has some of the fondest memories of the arena. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English fonned, fond, from fonne fool

Noun

borrowed from French, going back to Old French funt, font "bottom, base" — more at fund entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fond

• fond of

Rhymes for fond

• awned
• blond
• blonde
• bond
• conned
• dawned
• donned
• frond
• gond
• maund
• pawned
• pond

Kids Definition

fond

adjective

ˈfänd

1

: having a liking or love

fond of music

2

: loving, affectionate

a fond farewell

3

: cherished with great affection

their fondest hopes

fondly

ˈfän-(d)lē

adverb

fondness

ˈfän(d)-nəs

noun