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
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 7 July 2025
Beyond absorbing Powell’s salary, the trade comes at little cost to the Heat, with Anderson just a fringe player in the Heat’s rotation at the end of last season and Love having been shuffled out of the rotation amid the emergence of 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 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
The fringe number was quite a treat for fans of the artist.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 7 July 2025
Beyond absorbing Powell’s salary, the trade comes at little cost to the Heat, with Anderson just a fringe player in the Heat’s rotation at the end of last season and Love having been shuffled out of the rotation amid the emergence of 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 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 11 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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