fringe

1 of 2

noun

ˈfrinj 

often attributive

1

: an ornamental border consisting of short straight or twisted threads or strips hanging from cut or raveled edges or from a separate band

a lampshade with a fringe

2

a

: something resembling a fringe : edge, periphery

—often used in plural

operated on the fringes of the law

working for years on the fringes of the entertainment industry

b

chiefly British : bang entry 4

wears her hair in a fringe

c

: one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light

d

: an area bordering a putting green on a golf course with grass trimmed longer than on the green itself

3

a

: something that is marginal, additional, or secondary to some activity, process, or subject

a fringe sport

b

: a group with marginal or extremist views

the politically conservative fringe

c

: fringe benefit

fringy

ˈfrin-jē 

adjective

fringe

2 of 2

verb

fringed; fringing ˈfrin-jiŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to furnish or adorn with a fringe

2

: to serve as a fringe for : border

Synonyms

Noun

• border
• borderline
• bound
• boundary
• brim
• circumference
• compass
• confines
• edge
• edging
• end
• frame
• hem
• margin
• perimeter
• periphery
• rim
• skirt
• skirting
• verge

Verb

• abut
• adjoin
• border (on)
• butt (on or against)
• flank
• join
• march (with)
• neighbor
• skirt
• touch
• verge (on)

Examples of fringe in a Sentence

Noun

a lampshade with a fringe

a fringe of moss around the tree

a party on the political fringe

Verb

A jungle fringed the shore.

the orchestral pit fringed the edge of the stage

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Colbert’s program so often features the fringe leftist candidates, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and soon-to-be-former Congressman Jamaal Bowman, that their airtime should be counted as in-kind contributions to the Democratic National Committee. —Paul Miller, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024

The wave online fury and false claims quickly gained traction, especially on the hyper-partisan fringes of social media. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024

Verb

Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, stood in front of an archway fringed with palm trees and warmed up the crowd with jokes about the deep state. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024

People often think new ideas are crazy or fringe at first. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 11 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English frenge, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *frimbia, from Latin fimbriae (plural)

Verb

verbal derivative of fringe entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fringe

• fringe area
• fringe benefit
• fringe tree
• lunatic fringe
• on the fringe(s)

Kids Definition

fringe

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrinj 

1

: an ornamental border consisting of hanging threads or strips

2

: something suggesting a fringe

lived on the fringe of the forest

fringe

2 of 2 verb

fringed; fringing

1

: to provide or decorate with a fringe

fringed a buckskin jacket

2

: to serve as a fringe for : border

a jungle fringed the shore

Medical Definition

fringe

noun

ˈfrinj 

often attributive

: one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light