fancy

Fancy is a term used to describe something that is elaborate, decorative, or of higher quality than ordinary. As an adjective, it can refer to ornamental styles or items, such as a fancy hat or fancy dinnerware, and to elaborate or sophisticated tastes in design or presentation. It can also imply imagination or imagination-inspired ideas, as when something is described as fancy or fanciful. In British English and other varieties, fancy also denotes a liking or preference, as in have a fancy for something or would you fancy a cup of tea?

As a noun, fancy can mean imagination or a liking, preference, or whimsical notion. A person may have a sudden fancy for a particular activity or object, or speak of “fancies” that arise in daydreams. The verb form fancy means to like, want, or imagine something: to fancy a stroll, to fancy someone, or to fancy doing something. Common phrases include fancy dress, meaning costume attire, and fancy goods, which refer to decorative or luxury items. In some contexts, fancy work describes intricate needlework or decorative crafts.

Culturally, fancy appears as the title of notable songs, including “Fancy” by Reba McEntire (1990), a country ballad about aspiration and social mobility, and “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX (2014), a hip-hop/pop track that centers on luxury imagery. The word is widely used in daily language to convey decoration, indulgence, style, or an improvised impulse.

See also: fantasy, fanciful, fancy (disambiguation).