Fantasy
'fæntəsi
Definitions
5 meaningsThe act or process of imagining; the ability to create mental images, especially of things that are not real; a creation of the imagination.
'fæntəsi
The faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.
Her novel is pure fantasy, filled with dragons and magical creatures.
💡 Simply: Fantasy is like your brain's playground! It's where you can imagine anything, even things that couldn't happen in real life. Like, maybe you're a superhero saving the world, or you're flying to the moon on a giant pizza! It's all about having fun with your imagination.
👶 For kids: Thinking about things that aren't real, like magic or superheroes!
More Examples
He lived in a world of fantasy, escaping the harsh realities of his life.
Children often have rich fantasies, creating imaginary friends and worlds.
How It's Used
"The novel is a work of pure fantasy."
"He retreated into fantasy to escape his problems."
A genre of literature, film, etc., that typically features magic, supernatural elements, mythical creatures, or other elements not found in reality.
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A genre of fiction characterized by elements of fantasy, such as magic, supernatural creatures, or mythical worlds.
Fantasy literature has become increasingly popular in recent years.
💡 Simply: Fantasy is also a type of story, like a book or movie. These stories often have magic, mythical creatures, or other things that aren't real. Think Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings!
👶 For kids: A type of story with magic and make-believe things!
More Examples
The film's special effects created a breathtaking fantasy world.
He enjoys reading epic fantasies with complex plots.
How It's Used
"She is a huge fan of fantasy novels, especially those with epic world-building."
"The movie is a visual feast of fantasy and adventure."
A fanciful idea or creation of the imagination
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A fanciful creation or idea.
The idea of becoming a famous musician was just a youthful fantasy.
💡 Simply: This is another word for like an imagination.
👶 For kids: Something that's not real but you think of it!
More Examples
He indulged in fantasies of winning the lottery.
She had a fantasy about living in a tropical paradise.
How It's Used
"The house was built out of her own fantasy of how she imagined the perfect house"
"The whole story was just a fantasy"
A musical composition characterized by its freedom from conventional rules, a free-form musical piece
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A form of musical composition characterized by its freedom from formal rules.
The composer wrote a dramatic fantasy for the orchestra.
💡 Simply: When talking about music, a 'fantasy' is a piece that's free and doesn't follow strict rules. It's like the composer let their imagination run wild!
👶 For kids: When a song is free form and doesn't have a set structure!
More Examples
The piano piece was described as a romantic fantasy.
The concert included a fantasy for string quartet.
How It's Used
"The musician composed a beautiful fantasy for piano."
To imagine or create something that is not real or that is unlikely to happen
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To indulge in fantasy.
She fantasized about a life of luxury and travel.
💡 Simply: To fantasize is to daydream and think about unreal or unlikely scenarios. It's like planning the perfect vacation, even if it might not happen.
👶 For kids: To think about fun things that aren't real!
More Examples
He often fantasizes about having superpowers.
Don't just fantasize about your goals; take action!
How It's Used
"He often fantasizes about winning the lottery"
Idioms & expressions
flights of fancy
A vivid or extravagant display of imagination.
"Her stories are full of flights of fancy."
From Middle English *fantaisie*, from Old French *fantasie* (12th c.), from Latin *phantasia*, from Ancient Greek *phantasía* ('appearance, image, imagination').
The word 'fantasy' has been used since the late 12th century, originally referring to the faculty of imagination. Its use in describing a literary genre became prominent in the 20th century.
Memory tip
Think of a FAN with TASIS on it – a fan for the mind, tasis for imagination!
Word Origin
"appearance, image, imagination"