Definition of 'fairy'

Word Frequency

fairy

(feəri )

Word forms: plural fairies

1. countable noun

A fairy is an imaginary creature with magical powers. Fairies are often represented as small people with wings.

Synonyms: sprite, elf, brownie, hob More Synonyms of fairy

2. countable noun

If someone describes a man as a fairy, they mean that he is a homosexual and they disapprove of this.

[offensive, old-fashioned, disapproval]

Word Frequency

fairy in British

(ˈfɛərɪ )

nounWord forms: plural fairies

an imaginary supernatural being, usually represented in diminutive human form and characterized as clever, playful, and having magical powers

2. slang, offensive

a male homosexual

3. away with the fairies

adjective (prenominal)

of or relating to a fairy or fairies

resembling a fairy or fairies, esp in being enchanted or delicate

Derived forms

fairy-like (ˈfairy-ˌlike)

adjective

Word origin of 'fairy'

C14: from Old French faerie fairyland, from feie fairy, from Latin Fāta the Fates; see fate, fay1

Word Frequency

fairy in American

(ˈfɛri ; ferˈē)

nounWord forms: plural ˈfairies

an imaginary being usually in human form and supposed to have magic powers, specif. one that is tiny, graceful, and delicate

2. Slang

a male homosexual

term of contempt or derision

adjective

of fairies

fairylike; graceful; delicate

Derived forms

fairylike (ˈfairyˌlike)

adjective

Word origin of 'fairy'

ME, fairyland, fairy < OFr faerie < fée: see fay1

Word Lists

Mythological creatures, Supernatural creatures

Trends of 'fairy'

In Common Usage. fairy is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'fairy'

British English: fairy /ˈfɛərɪ/ NOUN

A fairy is an imaginary creature with magical powers.

American English: fairy
Arabic: جِنِّيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: fada
Chinese: 仙女
Croatian: vila
Czech: víla
Danish: fe
Dutch: fee
European Spanish: hada
Finnish: keijukainen
French: fée
German: Fee
Greek: νεράιδα
Italian: fata
Japanese: 妖精
Korean: 요정 꼬마요정
Norwegian: fe
Polish: duszek
European Portuguese: fada
Romanian: zână
Russian: фея
Spanish: hada
Swedish: älva
Thai: นางฟ้า
Turkish: peri
Ukrainian: фея
Vietnamese: tiên

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Nearby words of 'fairy'

Related Terms of 'fairy'

Source

Definition of fairy from the Collins English Dictionary

Square brackets [ ]

Square brackets are used, usually in books and articles, when supplying words that make a quotation clearer or that comment on it, although they were not originally said or written. Mr Runcie conclu...