# fancy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfæn.si/ · frequency rank #3,945

## Definitions
1. The imagination.
2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
4. A whim.
5. Love or amorous attachment.
6. The object of inclination or liking.
7. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
8. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
9. A diamond with a distinctive colour.
10. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
11. A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.
12. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
13. In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
14. A colored neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

## Etymology
From Middle English fansy, fantsy, a contraction of fantasy, fantasye, fantasie, from Old French fantasie, from Medieval Latin fantasia, from Late Latin phantasia (“an idea, notion, fancy, phantasm”), from Ancient Greek φαντασία (phantasía), from φαντάζω (phantázō, “to render visible”), from φαντός (phantós, “visible”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to make visible”); from the same root as φάος (pháos, “light”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti, from the root *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of fantasia, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.

## Easily confused with
- **fay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fay)
- **FNC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fnc)
- **fans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fans)
- **fang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fang)
- **FARC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-farc)
- **funny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-funny)
- **fence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fence)
- **fatty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fatty)
- **funky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-funky)
- **finch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-finch)
- **Fanny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fanny)
- **farce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-farce)
- **franc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-franc)
- **France** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-france)
- **fiancé** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-fiance)
- **Franck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-franck)
- **Franca** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fancy-vs-franca)
- **fan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fan-vs-fancy)
- **fac** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fac-vs-fancy)
- **face** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/face-vs-fancy)

## Common misspellings (8)
`afncy`, `facny`, `fanccy`, `fancyy`, `fanncy`, `fanyc`, `ffancy`, `fnacy`

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