English Lexicon

Fantasy

/ˈfæn.tə.si/
nounadjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #2500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.

    "Her latest novel is a rich work of pure fantasy."
  2. 2

    A genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, especially in a setting other than the real world.

    "He prefers reading epic fantasy set in medieval-inspired magical realms."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin phantasia, originating from Ancient Greek phantasía meaning 'appearance', 'image', or 'phantom', related to phantazein 'to make visible'. Entering Middle English via Old French in the 14th century, the term originally denoted mental apprehension or imagination before narrowing in scope to refer to illusory experiences and speculative fiction.

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