fondness

noun

fond·​ness ˈfän(d)-nəs How to pronounce fondness (audio)
Synonyms of fondnessnext
1
obsolete : foolishness, folly
2
: tender affection
3
: appetite, relish
had a fondness for argument

Examples of fondness in a Sentence

my fondness for you will never fail I have a fondness for expensive chocolate.
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.
Schmear and dip and repeat Kramer and Hymanson are sauce-and-dip obsessed, which tracks, knowing the pair’s fondness for the food of the Levant and Middle East. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 12 Jan. 2026 The harmony between my retro-ish features and fondness for vintage could be considered a lucky thing. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026 Villa players learnt of Emery’s fondness during analysis sessions before an FA Cup meeting with Middlesbrough in January 2024. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026 The book’s heroine, Catherine Morland, is an avid reader of the popular novels of the day, and has a specific fondness for Ann Radcliffe’s real-life 1794 best seller, The Mysteries of Udolpho, a tale of ghostly figures and hidden manuscripts. Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fondness

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fondness was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Fondness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fondness. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.

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