fanciful

American  

[fan-si-fuhl] / ˈfæn sɪ fəl /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing fancy; capricious or whimsical in appearance.

   a fanciful design of butterflies and flowers.

2. suggested by fancy; imaginary; unreal.

   fanciful lands of romance.

   Synonyms:

   illusory, baseless, visionary

3. led by fancy rather than by reason and experience; whimsical.

   a fanciful mind.

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fanciful British  

/ ˈfænsɪfʊl /

adjective

1. not based on fact; dubious or imaginary

   fanciful notions

2. made or designed in a curious, intricate, or imaginative way

3. indulging in or influenced by fancy; whimsical

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Other Word Forms

• fancifully adverb
• fancifulness noun
• overfanciful adjective
• overfancifully adverb
• overfancifulness noun
• unfanciful adjective

Etymology

Origin of fanciful

First recorded in 1620–30; fancy + -ful

Related Words

• absurd
• bizarre
• extravagant
• fantastic
• fantastical
• fictional
• imaginative
• offbeat
• preposterous
• unreal
• whimsical