# Fabian

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈfeɪ.biː.ən/ · frequency rank #23,267

## Definitions
1. Pertaining to or reminiscent of Roman general Fabius Maximus, whose tactics against Hannibal during the Second Punic War famously consisted of delaying or avoiding combat, focusing instead on weakening the enemy by cutting off supply lines.
2. Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism.
3. Cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.

## Etymology
From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.

## Easily confused with
- **Fabio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-fabio)
- **Fagan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-fagan)
- **facial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-facial)
- **Fijian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-fijian)
- **Fujian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-fujian)
- **Fabius** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-fabius)
- **Farhan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fabian-vs-farhan)

## Common misspellings (8)
`afbian`, `fabain`, `fabbian`, `fabiann`, `fabina`, `faiban`, `fbaian`, `ffabian`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fabian