fringe

noun, often attributive

\ ˈfrinj

Definition of fringe

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : something resembling a fringe : edge, periphery —often used in plural operated on the fringes of the lawworking 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

3a : 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

fringe

verb

fringed; fringing\ ˈfrin-jiŋ

Definition of fringe (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to furnish or adorn with a fringe

2 : to serve as a fringe for : border

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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

The footage from Dewey's camera shows the campus police officer rolling up to a fight on a street on the fringes of the university campus. — Gillian Flaccus, Fox News, "Autopsy: Man shot 9 times by campus police in Oregon," 19 Sep. 2018 Meanwhile, authorities largely stood by on the fringes of the action near a downtown park with a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that the city wanted to remove. — Sarah Rankin, The Seattle Times, "A year after deadly Virginia rally, wounds are still raw," 7 Aug. 2018 Belgium has mostly been attacking on the fringes, avoiding N’Golo Kanté in the middle and counting on Romelu Lukaku to keep the center backs occupied. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "France, With Flash to Spare, Reaches the World Cup Final," 11 July 2018 The nonprofit think tank, backed by charitable foundations and major banks, advocates for better financial products, especially for Americans on the fringes of the financial system. — James Rufus Koren, latimes.com, "For a day, I was one of the millions of Americans without a bank account. It was humbling," 21 June 2018 Founded by a former ballerina and surfer, Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves, the brand is most known for its scalloped swimsuits but has expanded its repertoire to include gingham print and fringe. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "The Best New Swimwear of Summer 2019," 21 Mar. 2019 Kadi previously revealed on Instagram that the dress consists of lurex velvet and includes fringes of beads and crystals at the hips. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kendall Jenner Had a Serious Leg Reveal at the Oscars After Party," 25 Feb. 2019 Returning to the top-view camera, the researchers observed that the vapor layer is not evenly distributed (video)—this is visible through the interference fringes in the images, which change shape as the drop moves. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Free-wheeling water droplets plot their own path off a hot plate," 14 Sep. 2018 Max Boot saying Republicans are white nationalist party with a conservative fringe. — Fox News, "Media's Supreme Court scrutiny," 9 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The lovely Jardins de l'Europe and festive esplanade both give way to a sandy bay fringed with old-timey paddle boats, some of which are topped with individual waterslides. — Elizabeth Wellington, Vogue, "Exploring Annecy, the Venice of the French Alps," 7 Nov. 2018 Striped pillows mingle with nubby throw blankets and linen sheets for the ultimate winter bed, while unexpected details like tassels and fringed edges give each element a thoughtful, finished look. — Jennifer Fernandez, House Beautiful, "A Joanna Gaines Bedding Line Is Coming To Target The Day After Christmas," 22 Dec. 2018 For a roughly 7-by-6-foot fringed blanket and charming pillows (there’s a choice of two colors and sizes), the scarves have been chopped up and stitched together in a tastefully off-kilter patchwork motif. — Marley Marius, Vogue, "Acne Studios Offers a Characteristically Cool Take on Home Goods," 5 Dec. 2018 Fold each fringed feather in half along dashed line and cut fringe along outer edge as marked. — Shelley Wolson, Woman's Day, "Fancy Faces: DIY Halloween Masks," 22 Sep. 2010 Emma Stone wore a custom gold column gown with fringed skirt. — Chrissy Rutherford, Harper's BAZAAR, "See Riccardo Tisci’s First Red Carpet Moment for Burberry," 7 Jan. 2019 Not to mention, this music video marked the official debut of Mina’s fringed bangs. — Lai Frances, Allure, "A Comprehensive Guide to the Evolution of Twice's Hair and Makeup," 6 Nov. 2018 That is why the Eurasian steppe is fringed to the south with barriers designed to forestall horsemen. — Felipe Fernández-armesto, WSJ, "‘Walls: A History of Civilization in Blood and Brick’ Review: . . . and Stay Out!," 13 Sep. 2018 Model Dilone’s tight buzz transformed from onyx to bright platinum in a New York Minute, while sartorial stars Ami and Aya Suzuki reemerged in Milan with twin fringed bobs in the same hot pink hue that swept London’s catwalk scene. — Vogue, "The Best Street Style Beauty Looks From the Spring 2019 Shows," 4 Oct. 2018

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

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Last Updated

12 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for fringe

The first known use of fringe was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for fringe

fringe

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fringe

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a border made of hanging threads used to decorate the edge of something (such as clothing, rugs, and curtains)

: a narrow area along the edge of something

: an area of activity that is related to but not part of whatever is central or most widely accepted : a group of people with extreme views or unpopular opinions

fringe

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fringe (Entry 2 of 2)

: to decorate (something) with a fringe

: to go along or around (something)

See the full definition for fringe in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fringe

noun

\ ˈfrinj