fanciful

[fan-si-fuhl]

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.

fanciful

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanciful¹

First recorded in 1620–30; fancy + -ful

Example Sentences

In response to the petition, one Supreme Court judge on the two-judge bench called the allegations "fanciful ideas".

From BBC

To think treasure hunters could be making the journey in the pitch-black sounds fanciful and yet this site has fallen victim to nighthawking multiple times.

From BBC

The all-ages appeal of the museum is a testament to the everlasting approach of the couple’s narratives, which handle difficult life moments with a fanciful nature, but never hold your hand.

From Los Angeles Times

Mardi Gras Indians — are still sewing their fanciful, feathered costumes and parading in the street.

From Los Angeles Times

There had been fanciful ideas that McIlroy, enjoying what has been a week-long lap of honour in his home country, would provide the fairytale ending.

From BBC

Related Words

• absurd 
• bizarre 
• extravagant 
• fantastic 
• fantastical www.thesaurus.com
• fictional 
• imaginative 
• offbeat 
• preposterous 
• unreal 
• whimsical