fantasy

[ fan-tuh-see, -zee ]

noun

, plural fan·ta·sies.

1. imagination, especially when extravagant and unrestrained.
2. the forming of mental images, especially wondrous or strange ones; imaginative conceptualizing.
3. a mental image, especially when unreal or fantastic none; vision:

   a nightmare fantasy.

4. Psychology. an imagined or conjured up sequence fulfilling a psychological need; daydream.
5. a hallucination.
6. a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion:

   dreams of Utopias and similar fantasies.

7. caprice; whim.
8. an ingenious or fanciful thought, design, or invention.
9. a genre of fiction involving magical, folkloric, or mythical elements:

   I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately.

10. Also Literature. an imaginative or fanciful work, especially one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters:

    The stories of Poe are fantasies of horror.

11. Music. fantasia ( def 1 ).

adjective

1. noting or relating to a genre of fiction involving magical, folkloric, or mythical elements:

   All his favorite fantasy novels are about elves.

2. noting or relating to any of various games or leagues in which fans assemble players of a professional sport into imaginary teams, and points are scored based on the performance of these players in real games:

   fantasy football;

   fantasy sports.

verb (used with or without object)

, fan·ta·sied, fan·ta·sy·ing.

1. to form mental images; imagine; fantasize none.
2. Rare. to write or play fantasias.

fantasy

/ ˈfæntəsɪ /

noun

1. 1. imagination unrestricted by reality
   2. ( as modifier )

      a fantasy world

2. a creation of the imagination, esp a weird or bizarre one
3. psychol
   1. a series of pleasing mental images, usually serving to fulfil a need not gratified in reality
   2. the activity of forming such images
4. a whimsical or far-fetched notion
5. an illusion, hallucination, or phantom
6. a highly elaborate imaginative design or creation
7. music another word for fantasia fancy development
8. 1. literature having a large fantasy content
   2. a prose or dramatic composition of this type
9. modifier of or relating to a competition, often in a newspaper, in which a participant selects players for an imaginary ideal team, and points are awarded according to the actual performances of the chosen players

   fantasy football

verb

1. a less common word for fantasize

Other Words From

• non·fan·ta·sy noun plural nonfantasies

Word History and Origins

Origin of fantasy¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English fantasie “imaginative faculty, mental image” (from Anglo-French, Old French ), from Latin phantasia, from Greek phantasía “an idea, notion, image,” literally, “a making visible, display”; fantastic none, -y ³none

Word History and Origins

Origin of fantasy¹

C14 fantasie , from Latin phantasia , from Greek phantazein to make visible

Synonym Study

See fancy none.

Example Sentences

"It is a fantasy right now, but it is a direction I would love to explore down the road."

From Science Daily

Swapping the Persona series' anime-inspired high school setting for a Medieval fantasy world, Metaphor: ReFantazio was praised for its storytelling and its handling of weighty topics such as racism and politics.

From BBC

“I believe that most Hongkongers knew deep down in their hearts that fighting for democracy under the Chinese communist regime has always been a fantasy,” she said.

From BBC

We read far too much into body language and demeanour, can be swayed by a slap at a weigh-in or live in a fantasy land powered by nostalgia.

From BBC

Hegseth envisions the military as a safe space for straight white men, where their fantasy of inherent superiority is carefully protected from real-world evidence that other people are strong, smart and capable.

From Salon

Related Words

• delusion
• fancy
• illusion
• nightmare
• reverie
• vision