fondness

noun

fond·​ness ˈfän(d)-nəs How to pronounce fondness (audio)
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 Nevertheless, Muniz still holds fondness for his Malcolm family. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Apr. 2024 Sherman has been careful in his public comments to acknowledge fans’ fondness for Kauffman and its storied history. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 State Senator Jack Johnson, the majority leader, reminisced about celebrating his bachelor party at Robert’s, while Mr. Lee described a fondness for incognito date nights with his wife to listen to some music. Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 And then there are those who might favor paying for renovations at the Truman Sports Complex but oppose a downtown ballpark for any number of reasons, from concerns about parking to the displacement of Crossroads businesses to their fondness for Kauffman Stadium. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 Meme pages on social media accounts for trendy East Londoners often reference the local’s increasing fondness for a Guinness, poured at one of the area’s several charming pubs. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 16 Mar. 2024 Instead, Kennedy is front-loading two men who the young male voter might find in a late-night TikTok or Instagram scroll and who are known for their own fondness for indulging in conspiracy theories and misinformation. Anna Merlan, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 That includes many more efforts to get bettors engaged with a gambling company's brand, to accommodate their fondness for social media and communal activity, and to target experiences to their interests. Wayne Parry, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 The project plugs into people’s natural fondness for birds and bird-watching. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fondness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fondness was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fondness

Cite this Entry

“Fondness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fondness. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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