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 pluraloperated 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

Other Words from fringe Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fringe

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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 CBS Sports listed Slovis as a fringe Heisman contender. — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, "USC's Kedon Slovis receiving rave reviews ahead of 2020 college football season," 31 July 2020 To me, Notre Dame seemed like a fringe College Football Playoff team entering this season. — Cameron Teague Robinson, The Courier-Journal, "Can Louisville football make ACC championship with new schedule? We break it down," 31 July 2020 But President Donald Trump has used it and recently has embraced the views of a fringe Houston pediatrician who says the medicine can help with coronavirus. — cleveland, "Ohio pharmacy board backs off hydroxychloroquine ban at Gov. Mike DeWine’s urging," 30 July 2020 Morris revealed that Lambert gifted her and her son — 4-month-old Hayes Andrew — matching denim jackets, decked out with their names embroidered and a glittery fringe on the back. — Ally Mauch, PEOPLE.com, "Maren Morris Reveals the Adorable Presents Miranda Lambert Sent for Her Son Hayes: 'Best Gifts'," 29 July 2020 The bigger challenge in a baseball season in which the game has quickly become a fringe player: Getting there and back without the season stopping around them. — Dallas News, "In wake of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak, Rangers echo importance of accountability in bizarre season," 29 July 2020 The isolated, hilly region on the northern fringe of Appalachia is picturesque but has been largely economically depressed as manufacturing jobs have left and population has been lost. — Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, "How foster care, adoption changed path of Tide’s top basketball recruiter," 13 July 2020 Boebert is the third QAnon fringe conspiracy theorist to experience success this election season. — Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, "Scott Tipton becomes fourth House incumbent to be felled in primary," 1 July 2020 Why not a Group 2 credential that allows for fringe coverage — entry into games, but not postgame news conferences or practices? — Dallas News, "Enter the bubble: The Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend joins few others to cover the NBA’s return from inside Disney World," 13 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Player development is more refined, the theory goes, and thus fringe prospects are more quickly disposed of, and then there’s far fewer players who will receive that prized $400 weekly paycheck. — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Minor League Baseball's canceled 2020 season a cruel blow in grim 2020 sports year," 30 June 2020 Related memes and links to fringe right-wing websites have been shared millions of times on Facebook in the last few months. — Nina Jankowicz, Wired, "Facebook Groups Are Destroying America," 17 June 2020 Then, the murder of George Floyd, mass protest and fringe rioting in multiple cities plunged the country into a secondary crisis. — Zachary Karabell, Time, "The May Jobs Report Doesn’t Say What We Think It Says," 8 June 2020 In this year’s draft class, Brown has trained late bloomers like Jamir Jones of Notre Dame and Jonathan Greenard of Florida, and also fringe prospects like Maurice Smitherman (Mississippi State) and Solomon Muhammad (Alcorn State). — Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, "Football workouts during plague return to basics," 17 Apr. 2020 The rocky but usually dry crossings are fringed with scrappy stands of scrub oak, willows and catclaw. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, "A short distance off the highway, this Prescott-area hike feels remote. Here's how to do it," 12 Mar. 2020 My grandparents had been involved in cults and fringe religious groups, and my mother and father attended past-life readings. — Jennifer Percy, New York Times, "Fear of the Federal Government in the Ranchlands of Oregon," 18 Jan. 2018 Unlike in other shiny birds, such as hummingbirds or crows, the cassowary's glossiness is produced by the rachis, or the spine of the feather, rather than the barbules, or minute filaments fringing a feather. — Katie Hunt, CNN, "How the world's most dangerous bird got its unique feathers," 13 May 2020 With a thick mustache, fringed, medium-length hair and a Hammond organ style that prompted comparisons to The Doors, Mr. Greenfield seemed an unlikely punk. — Iliana Magra, New York Times, "Dave Greenfield, Keyboardist of the Stranglers, Dies at 71," 7 May 2020

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

3 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fringe. Accessed 14 Aug. 2020.

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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