What does Fancy mean?

Definitions for Fancy
ˈfæn sifan·cy

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Fancy.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. illusion, fantasy, phantasy, fancynoun

    something many people believe that is false

    "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy"

  2. fancynoun

    a kind of imagination that was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than true imagination

  3. fondness, fancy, partialityadjective

    a predisposition to like something

    "he had a fondness for whiskey"

  4. fancyverb

    not plain; decorative or ornamented

    "fancy handwriting"; "fancy clothes"

  5. visualize, visualise, envision, project, fancy, see, figure, picture, imageverb

    imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind

    "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy"

  6. fancy, go for, take toverb

    have a fancy or particular liking or desire for

    "She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window"

Wiktionary

  1. fancynoun

    The imagination; an imagined image.

    The film rose from Stephen's fancy.

  2. fancynoun

    A whim.

    I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.

  3. fancynoun

    Love or amorous attachment.

    He took a fancy to her.

  4. fancynoun

    Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.

  5. fancynoun

    The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.

    He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.

  6. fancynoun

    A diamond with a distinctive colour.

  7. fancyverb

    To appreciate without jealousy or greed.

    I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.

  8. fancyverb

    would like

  9. fancyverb

    To be sexually attracted to.

    I fancy that girl over there.

  10. fancyverb

    To imagine, suppose.

  11. fancyadjective

    Decorative.

    This is a fancy shawl.

  12. fancyadjective

    Of a superior grade.

    This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.

  13. fancyadjective

    Executed with skill.

    He initiated the game winning play with a fancy, deked saucer pass to the winger.

  14. fancyadjective

    Unnecessarily complicated.

    I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. FANCYnoun

    Etymology: contracted from phantasy, phantasia, Latin; φαντασία.

    William Shakespeare, fancy’s sweetest child! John Milton.

    In the soul
    Are many lesser faculties, that serve
    Reason as chief: among these fancy next
    Her office holds; of all external things,
    Which the five watchful senses represent,
    She forms imaginations, airy shapes,
    Which reason joining, or disjoining, frames
    All what we affirm, or what deny, and call
    Our knowledge, or opinion. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. v.

    Though no evidence affects the fancy so strongly as that of sense, yet there is other evidence, which gives as full satisfaction and as clear a conviction to our reason. Francis Atterbury.

    Love is by fancy led about,
    From hope to fear, from joy to doubt:
    Whom we now a goddess call,
    Divinity grac’d in every feature,
    Strait’s a deform’d, a perjur’d creature;
    Love and hate are fancy all. George Granville.

    Mens private fancies must give place to the higher judgment of that church which is in authority over them. Richard Hooker.

    A person of a full and ample fortune, who was not disturbed by any fancies in religion. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

    I have always had a fancy, that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. John Locke.

    The little chapel called the Salutation is very neat, and built with a pretty fancy. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

    How now, my lord, why do you keep alone;
    Of sorriest fancies your companions making,
    Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
    With them they think on? William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

    Tell me where is fancy bred,
    Or in the heart, or in the head?
    How begot, how nourished?
    It is engender’d in the eyes,
    With gazing fed, and fancy dies
    In the cradle where it lies. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

    His fancy lay extremely to travelling. Roger L'Estrange.

    For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself,
    To fit your fancies to your father’s will;
    Or else the law of Athens yields you up
    To death, or to a vow of single life. William Shakespeare.

    A resemblance in humour or opinion, a fancy for the same business or diversion, is oftentimes a ground of affection. Jeremy Collier, of Friendship.

    True worth shall gain me, that it may be said
    Desert, not fancy, once a woman led. John Dryden, Ind. Emp.

    The sultan of Egypt kept a good correspondence with the Jacobites towards the head of the Nile, for fear they should take a fancy to turn the course of that river. Arbuthnot.

    One that was just entring upon a long journey, took up a fancy of putting a trick upon Mercury. Roger L'Estrange.

    The altering of the scent, colour, or taste of fruit, by infusing, mixing, or cutting into the bark or root of the tree, herb, or flower, any coloured, aromatical, or medicinal substance, are but fancies: the cause is, for that those things have passed their period, and nourish not. Francis Bacon, Nat. History.

    London-pride is a pretty fancy, and does well for borders. John Mortimer, Husbandry.

  2. To Fancyverb

    But he whose noble genius is allow’d,
    Who with stretch’d pinions soars above the crowd;
    Who mighty thought can clothe with manly dress,
    He whom I fancy, but can ne’er express. John Dryden, Juven. Sat.

    Ninus both admiring her judgment and valour, together with her person and external beauty, fancied her so strongly, as, neglecting all princely respects, he took her from her husband. Walter Raleigh, History of the World.

    It is a little hard that the queen cannot demolish this town in whatever manner she pleaseth to fancy. Jonathan Swift.

  3. To Fancyverb

    To imagine; to believe without being able to prove.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    All are not always bound to hate and punish the true enemies of religion, much less any whom they may fancy to be so: all are always obliged to love its true friends, and to pray for its very enemies. Thomas Sprat, Sermons.

    If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know, and are not yet penetrated into the inside and reality of the thing; but content ourselves with what our imaginations furnish us with. John Locke.

Wikipedia

  1. Fancy

    Fancy is a song written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry in 1969. The song depicts its heroine overcoming poverty to become a successful courtesan. Gentry view the song as a feminist statement: The country song was a crossover pop music hit for Gentry. It was covered in 1990 by country music artist Reba McEntire on her album Rumor Has It. McEntire's version surpassed the original on the country music charts, reaching the Top Ten on Billboard's Hot Country Hits in 1991.

ChatGPT

  1. fancy

    Fancy can be defined as a desire or preference for something that is extravagant, elaborate, decorative, or ornamental. It refers to having a liking for things that are stylish, elegant, sophisticated, or posh.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Fancynoun

    the faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination

  2. Fancynoun

    an image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit

  3. Fancynoun

    an opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression

  4. Fancynoun

    inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking

  5. Fancynoun

    that which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value

  6. Fancynoun

    a sort of love song or light impromptu ballad

  7. Fancyverb

    to figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof

  8. Fancyverb

    to love

  9. Fancyverb

    to form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine

  10. Fancyverb

    to have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners

  11. Fancyverb

    to believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal)

  12. Fancyadjective

    adapted to please the fancy or taste; ornamental; as, fancy goods

  13. Fancyadjective

    extravagant; above real value

Wikidata

  1. Fancy

    "Fancy" is a song written and originally performed by Bobbie Gentry in 1969. The song depicts its heroine's overcoming poverty to become a successful courtesan. Other than Gentry's, the best known version of the song was recorded in 1990 by country music artist Reba McEntire for her Rumor Has It album. McEntire had a Top Ten country hit with her cover of the song in 1991.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Fancy

    fan′si, n. that faculty of the mind by which it recalls, represents, or makes to appear past images or impressions: an image or representation thus formed in the mind: an unreasonable or capricious opinion: a whim: capricious inclination or liking: taste: (Shak.) love.—adj. pleasing to, or guided by, fancy or caprice: elegant or ornamental.—v.t. to portray in the mind: to imagine: to have a fancy or liking for: to be pleased with: to breed animals:—pr.p. fan′cying; pa.p. fan′cied.p.adj. Fan′cied, formed or conceived by the fancy: imagined.—n. Fan′cier, one who has a special liking for anything, or who keeps a special article for sale: one who is governed by fancy.—adj. Fan′ciful, guided or created by fancy: imaginative: whimsical: wild.—adv. Fan′cifully.—n. Fan′cifulness.—adj. Fan′ciless, destitute of fancy.—ns. Fan′cy-ball, a ball at which fancy-dresses in various characters are worn; Fan′cy-dress, dress arranged according to the wearer's fancy, to represent some character in history or fiction; Fan′cy-fair, a special sale of fancy articles for some charitable purpose.—adj. Fan′cy-free (Shak.), free from the power of love.—n.pl. Fan′cy-goods, fabrics of variegated rather than simple pattern, applied generally to articles of show and ornament.—n. Fan′cy-mong′er (Shak.), one who deals in tricks of imagination.—adj. Fan′cy-sick (Shak.), of distempered mind, love-sick.—ns. Fan′cy-stitch, a more intricate and decorative stitch than plain-stitch; Fan′cy-stroke (billiards), an unusual stroke, or one made to show off one's skill; Fan′cy-work, ornamental needlework.—The fancy, sporting characters generally, esp. pugilists: pugilism. [Contracted from fantasy.]

CrunchBase

  1. Fancy

    Fancy (fancy.com) is the place where you discover, collect, and buy from a crowd-curated catalog of amazing goods, wonderful places and innovative stores. Fancy lets you discover an endless assortment of cool stuff, curated by our global community with one thing in common: exceptional taste. Use Fancy to find the best gear, plan a vacation, or keep up to date with the latest fashion.

Suggested Resources

  1. fancy

    Song lyrics by fancy -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by fancy on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. FANCY

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fancy is ranked #60790 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Fancy surname appeared 331 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Fancy.

    80.9% or 268 total occurrences were White.
    8.4% or 28 total occurrences were Asian.
    7.8% or 26 total occurrences were Black.
    1.8% or 6 total occurrences were of two or more races.

British National Corpus

  1. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Fancy' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1959

  2. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Fancy' in Verbs Frequency: #783

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce Fancy?

How to say Fancy in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Fancy in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Fancy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Fancy in a Sentence

  1. Rob Bryngelson:

    There is nothing imminent. Are there ongoing discussions ? Sure, we've had banks, infrastructure funds, MLPs (Master Limited Partnerships), interest from suppliers. Nothing has really tickled our fancy yet and let me make it clear we're not actively marketing our company.

  2. Sam Poser:

    They've done a very good job over the past couple of years of really honing in on their customer, they have a designer customer that wants a good price on some fancy shoes.

  3. Anna Zafesova:

    Not only because its one of very few sources of free information about corruption and the abuse of power in Putins Russia, but also because its a sign that Navalny is not just a famous media person, he has dozens of young women and men perfectly capable of carrying on his investigative work. Maybe they are less charismatic than he, but they are proof that the Russian opposition is not only virtual and cannot be silenced with the poisoning of its leader. POISONED KREMLIN CRITIC ALEXEI NAVALNY OUT OF COMA AND RESPONSIVE: GERMAN HOSPITAL Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh and fellow team member Georgi Alburov front the Tatarstan film, and said they were followed and harassed while shooting by men who blocked their paths with quad bikes or lurked nearby. Some dramatic images along those lines appear in the film.Yarmysh talks about how Tatarstan was supposed to be one of Navalnys stops on his late summer swing through Russian regions ahead of elections. Navalny was lobbying forSmart Voting. He argued that ifhe and people like him couldnt run in elections in Russia, the next best thing wasto simply vote for a candidate who is not from the same party as President Vladimir Putin, United Russia. Navalnyfamously called it the party of crooks and thieves and wantedto chip away at its monopoly on power howeverpossible.He believes Smart Voting can eventually dislodge it from power. GERMANY SUGGESTS HALT TO RUSSIA PIPELINE PROJECT, SEEKS COOPERATION WITH NAVALNY POISONING INVESTIGATION In the documentary from Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, Navalnys team keeps up his stylistic pace with drone video of what itidentifiesas the palatial homes of the regional president and his family, punctuated withvideoof the vast collection of fancy watches from Patek Phillipe to Breguet worn byleaderRustam Minnikhanov. Even if you dont understand Russian, it is compelling TV, Zafesova said. Navalnys investigations have evolved over the years from merely facts and analysis on his blog to full-scale movies.He invented a whole new way to oppose power, a mix of media and politics which is very important in a censored media environment like Russia and fills the void of free media as well as free debate and an independent judicial system.Navalnys videos are funny, clever, precise and shocking, not just angry denunciations of the wrongdoings of government.

  4. Voltaire:

    It is new fancy rathert than taste which produces so many new fashions.

  5. William Blake:

    To me this world is all one continued vision of fancy or imagination, and I feel flattered when I am told so. What is it sets Homer, Virgil and Milton in so high a rank of art? Why is the Bible more entertaining and instructive than any other book? Is it not because they are addressed to the imagination, which is spiritual sensation, and but immediately to the understanding or reason?

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Fancy#1#6823#10000

Translations for Fancy

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • غير حقيقيArabic
  • въобразявам си, фантазия, въображение, украсен, обичам, майсторски изработен, харесвам, причудлив, каприз, представям си, пристрастие, прищявкаBulgarian
  • fantasiaCatalan, Valencian
  • mít chuťCzech
  • fancyDanish
  • kunstvoll, Einbildungskraft, Vorstellungskraft, Vorstellung, Anhänger, Einbildung, schrill, Eindruck, ausgefallen, Zuneigung, Anhängertum, Leidenschaft, Vernarrtheit, verworren, Fantasie, Einfall, edel, vertrackt, Idee, raffiniert, kraus, nobel, einfallsreich, Anhängerschaft, Gefallen, geschickt, schick, FansGerman
  • φαντασίαGreek
  • fantazioEsperanto
  • apetecer, provocar, tincar, antojar, tener ganas, ser atraído por, gustarSpanish
  • علاقه داشتن بهPersian
  • hienostunut, tehdä mieli, intoilijat, hieno, harrastajat, haluta, oikku, koristeellinen, päähänpisto, ihastusFinnish
  • fantaisieFrench
  • saoil, smaoinichScottish Gaelic
  • amante, fedele, fanatico, sbandata, mania, maniaco, impuntatura, fantasia, capriccio, ghiribizzoItalian
  • impetusLatin
  • zin in hebbenDutch
  • fancyNorwegian
  • zachciankaPolish
  • chiquePortuguese
  • extravagantRomanian
  • маскарадныйRussian
  • fintSwedish
  • fanteziTurkish
  • уявити, уявляти, хотіти, бажатиUkrainian
  • پسند ہیںUrdu
  • hấp dẫnVietnamese

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"Fancy." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 9 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Fancy>.

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    a central point or locus of an infection in an organism
    A omphalos
    B congius
    C nidus
    D brashness

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