fad

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈfad 

: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze

faddish

ˈfa-dish 

adjective

faddishly adverb

faddishness noun

faddism

ˈfa-ˌdi-zəm 

noun

faddist

ˈfa-dist 

noun

faddy

ˈfa-dē 

adjective

FAD

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˌef-ˌā-ˈdē 

: flavin adenine dinucleotide

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• buzz
• chic
• craze
• dernier cri
• enthusiasm
• fashion
• flavor
• go
• hot ticket
• last word
• latest
• mode
• rage
• sensation
• style
• ton
• trend
• vogue

Choose the Right Synonym for fad

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time

crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of fad in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She's always interested in the latest fads.

once the fad for that kind of music had passed, nobody would have been caught dead listening to it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As Jheri curls take off and curly perms show few signs of being a fad, Johnson feels squeezed by competition, including Revlon. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

The physical laws behind quantum computing are on solid ground, unlike many other fads like negative interest rates that were implemented in Germany, or perpetual motion machines of eras past. —Vineer Bhansali, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Los Angeles tends to be at the vanguard of any health food fad, and the luxury grocery store chain Erewhon is the epicenter, the birthplace of dozens of dubious superfoods. —Miyo McGinn, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2025

Arizona looked quite a bit different 50 years ago — from the shape of metro Phoenix, the professional sports uniforms, fashions and fads, and notable landmarks still under construction. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1867, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1944, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fad

noun

ˈfad 

: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze

faddish

ˈfad-ish 

adjective

faddist

ˈfad-əst 

noun

faddy

ˈfad-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

FAD

noun

ˌef-(ˌ)ā-ˈdē 

: flavin adenine dinucleotide