fad

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish adjective
faddishly adverb
faddishness noun
faddism noun
faddist noun
faddy adjective
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This reason alone lays legitimacy to the claim these are in fact investment assets and not a fad. Kenneth G. Winans, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 One of the biggest critiques of this new fad is that its innovators can only do that, but the Queens rapper showed otherwise with a fluid flow and good punchlines. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Trend forecasting can be tricky business, especially with the endless influx of fast-to-rise-and-fall fads — but not for Pinterest. Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024 The 1908 Washington Times magazine section ran a splashy story on the pedometer fad at debutante balls that included a full-page graphic that figured the women as elegantly clad, with pedometers discreetly hidden beneath expensive gowns or tucked into bodices. Jacqueline D. Wernimont, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fad 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fad was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near fad

Cite this Entry

“Fad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fad. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fad

noun
: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish adjective
faddist noun
faddy adjective

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on fad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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