fruitcake

noun

fruit·​cake ˈfrüt-ˌkāk 

plural fruitcakes

1

: a rich cake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits, spices, and usually alcohol (such as rum or brandy)

2

: a foolish or eccentric person

The roommate once thought of as a fruitcake is the candidate likeliest to be our next Secretary of State.

—Erich Segal

also, sometimes offensive : someone who is not mentally sound

"… The guy on the tape's a fruitcake. And he has a rifle. You are not safe here."

—Pat Conroy

Synonyms

• eccentric
• character
• nut
• crackpot
• wacko
• nutter [British slang]
• nutcase
• weirdo
• flake
• original
• loony
• kook
• screwball
• crank
• piece of work
• codger
• oddball
• loon

Examples of fruitcake in a Sentence

children in the neighborhood once regarded the reclusive scientist as a fruitcake

he agreed to an evaluation so they could see he wasn't a fruitcake

Recent Examples on the Web

The finish is long, sweet, and fruity with lingering fruitcake notes, dark chocolate, and a rich, oaky finish. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Continuing to be angry and hold grudges can be like strapping a 40-pound fruitcake to your neck—a burden that can be nuts and hard to carry. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

Even to a fruitcake skeptic, the cake recipes in Nature's Candy look delicious. —Neda Ulaby, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024

Classics like gingerbread, fruitcake, and pumpkin pie wouldn’t be the same without it. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fruitcake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

fruitcake

noun

fruit·​cake ˈfrüt-ˌkāk 

: a rich cake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits, and spices