# fondling

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɒndlɪŋ/ · frequency rank #49,925

## Definitions
1. A foolish person.
2. A pet or person who is fondled; someone who is much loved.

## Etymology
From fond + -ling.

## Easily confused with
- **funding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fondling-vs-funding)
- **fooling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fondling-vs-fooling)
- **fouling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fondling-vs-fouling)
- **founding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fondling-vs-founding)
- **finding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/finding-vs-fondling)
- **folding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/folding-vs-fondling)
- **fiddling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fiddling-vs-fondling)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ffondling`, `fnodling`, `fodnling`, `fonddling`, `fondilng`, `fondlign`, `fondlingg`, `fondlinng`, `fondlling`, `fondlnig`, `fonlding`, `fonndling`, `ofndling`

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