fantasia

noun

fan·​ta·​sia fan-ˈtā-zhə 

-zhē-ə,

-zē-ə;

ˌfan-tə-ˈzē-ə

1

: a free usually instrumental composition not in strict form

2

a

: a work (such as a poem or play) in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted

b

: something possessing grotesque, bizarre, or unreal qualities

Examples of fantasia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its music videos, which had heretofore been so art-school obscure that MTV barely played them, were now high-budget fantasias with Stipe front and center, undulating like a Robert Longo painting come to life. —Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

Gary followed his Grove editor Fred Jordan to Pantheon, where his novel Gone Tomorrow, a Fassbinder-ish fantasia on a film set, was published in 1993. —Ira Silverberg, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024

Trending on Billboard With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Jae Stephens’ new Y2K fantasia to 4batz and Lil Baby’s smooth new duet. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2024

Formed between Gloucestershire and London, the duo presents a suite of synth-pop odysseys, woodwind fantasias, and ceremonial folk jigs situated midway between a sleazy club dancefloor and Stone Henge. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Italian, "imagination as a faculty, rare phenomenon, exotic object, refined ornament, improvised musical variation," borrowed from Late Latin phantasia "imagination as a faculty, mental image of something perceived physically" — more at fantasy entry 1

Note: The musical term is conventionally attributed to Italian, though the linguistic context in which it is first used is uncertain.

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fantasia

noun

fan·​ta·​sia fan-ˈtā-zhə 

ˌfant-ə-ˈzē-ə

: a musical composition written without following a particular style