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
Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The actress wore a floor-length gown with a pink lace bodice and a yellow duchesse skirt with silk fringes.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 27 Oct. 2025
Ross arrived on the scene in an oversized, off-the-shoulder Marc Jacobs trench coat, dramatically fringed black shoes, and what seemed like piles of gems draped around her neck and dangling from her ears.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fringe
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Noun
Because it’s optimized for stationary use, performance can be less reliable while traveling or in fringe coverage zones.
—Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The actress wore a floor-length gown with a pink lace bodice and a yellow duchesse skirt with silk fringes.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Head to Grote Markt, where the Renaissance Town Hall sparkles with lights and the historic homes that fringe the square are illuminated after dark.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 27 Oct. 2025
Ross arrived on the scene in an oversized, off-the-shoulder Marc Jacobs trench coat, dramatically fringed black shoes, and what seemed like piles of gems draped around her neck and dangling from her ears.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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