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
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
fringed; fringing
ˈfrin-jiŋ 
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
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 June 2025
Perfect for the summertime, keep your butterfly haircut in check with regular trims to the fringe and touch-ups to the layered shaping at the front.
—Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 25 June 2025
Robert Finch
june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
The modest white stucco building was fringed with dead grass.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fringe
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Noun
Pair a fitted fringe skirt with a zebra print crop top, sunglasses, and a cowboy hat for a fun and flirty look.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 June 2025
Perfect for the summertime, keep your butterfly haircut in check with regular trims to the fringe and touch-ups to the layered shaping at the front.
—Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 25 June 2025
Verb
Rock ledges, fringed with rockweed and knotted wrack, are visible at low tide.
—Robert Finch
june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
The modest white stucco building was fringed with dead grass.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fringe
Cite this Entry
“Fringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fringe. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fringe
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
nounoften attributive
: one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light
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