fan

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈfan 

1

: any of various devices for winnowing grain

2

: an instrument for producing a current of air: such as

a

: a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usually shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (such as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use

b

: a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor

a ceiling fan to stir the air

c

slang : an airplane propeller

3

a

: something resembling an open fan (such as the leaf of certain palms)

b

: a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus

especially : alluvial fan

fanlike

ˈfan-ˌlīk 

adjective

fan

2 of 3

verb

fanned; fanning

transitive verb

1

a

: to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air

b

: to eliminate (chaff) by winnowing

2

: to move or impel (air) with a fan

3

: to blow or breathe upon

the breeze fanning her hair

4

a

: to direct a current of air upon with a fan

b

: to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate

fanning the fires of nationalism

5

archaic : wave

6

slang : spank

7

: to spread like a fan

the peacock fanned his tail

8

: to strike (a batter) out in baseball

9

: to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free hand

intransitive verb

1

: to move like a fan : flutter

2

: to spread like a fan

—often used with out

the searchers fanned out

3

: strike out sense 3

fanner

ˈfa-nər 

noun

fan

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator

2

: an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)

science-fiction fans

Did you know?

The Fanatical Origin of Fan

There are a good number of etymological myths in the English language, stories about the origins of words (such as the widespread notion that posh originated as an acronym for “port out, starboard home”) which are, to put it kindly, inaccurate. But this does not mean that every vivid account of linguistic origin is fictitious. Many words, such as fan, do have colorful backstories.

Fan is generally–and very likely correctly–believed to be a shortened form of fanatic. The origin of fanatic (which can be traced back to the Latin word fanum, meaning “sanctuary, temple”) is less often commented on. In English, fan made an early appearance in the late 17th century only to disappear for two centuries, resurfacing in the late 19th century. In this later period of use, it often referred to the devoted observers of, or participants in, a sport. An 1885 article from The Kansas City Times, for example, contains the line “The base ball ‘fans’ of the ploice [sic] force and fire department engage in a ball game.”

Synonyms

Verb

• expand
• extend
• flare (out)
• open
• outspread
• outstretch
• spread (out)
• stretch (out)
• unfold
• unfurl

Noun (2)

• addict
• aficionado
• afficionado
• buff
• bug
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fanatic
• fancier
• fiend
• fool
• freak
• habitué
• habitue
• head
• hound
• junkie
• junky
• lover
• maniac
• maven
• mavin
• nut
• sucker

Examples of fan in a Sentence

Verb

He fanned himself with a newspaper while he waited for the bus.

The pitcher has fanned six batters in the first three innings.

The batter fanned on a curveball.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The theme runs from May 3 to July 6, and fans can book reservations online at OpenTable. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Rap fans want to hear artists take it all the way there, not be overly conscientious and almost deferential on the battlefield. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024

His first tour with the E Street Band since 2017 began last February in Tampa, Fl., with fans still grumbling over a dynamic ticket pricing fiasco, and was criticized because the set lists were too rigid compared to years past. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024

The moment Inter Miami fans have been waiting for came at 4 p.m. Friday, when, in a rare move, the club released on social media its game day roster for the home match Saturday against Colorado Rapids. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

Some baseball fans also had thoughts on the earthquake, which happened the same day the Oakland A’s announced the team will relocate to West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, The Sacramento Bee reported. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024

So far, 64% of fellow quiz fans have gotten eight or more questions right. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

Join hundreds of Dodgers fans for a 6 1/2-mile hike through Griffith Park, beginning at 7:30 a.m. sharp. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024

Tickets start at $15 for people and dog tickets are $5 each, with the first 750 fans in attendance getting to take home a travel dog bowl with the Barracuda logo. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024

Verb

Normally, such an addition of new jobs would raise concerns that a vibrant labor market would force companies to sharply raise pay to attract and keep workers, thereby fanning inflation pressures. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024

Some commentators might also be tempted to fan the flames of inflation in hopes of influencing voters or policy makers. —Kevin O'Marah, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Mya McGowan Poway Softball The junior pitcher threw three complete games, two of them shutouts, while fanning 19 batters. —Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

Such huge fires, whether ignited by natural or human causes, are fanned by factors that include the expansion of suburbia into wildlands, land management and firefighting challenges and climate change, said McGinnis and others. —USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024

In her role as RNC chief, McDaniel also fanned the flames of election denialism after the 2020 presidential contest. —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

Then Musgrove fanned All-Star Freddie Freeman, again cauterizing the bleeding. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024

According to some sources who work closely with mods, though, Huffman and other execs had simply paid too little attention to moderators’ needs recently, and in so doing inadvertently fanned the embers that would ignite a fire. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024

Comedian Rob Schneider is among those who have fanned the flames of DEI criticism. —David Ingram, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus — more at winnow

Noun (2)

probably short for fanatic

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fan

• fan art
• alluvial fan
• fan base
• fan club
• fan-jet
• fan mail
• fan out
• fan letter
• hit the fan
• fan vault
• fan-tan
• fan fiction
• fan belt
• sea fan

Kids Definition

fan

1 of 3 noun

ˈfan 

1

: an instrument for producing a current of air: as

a

: a device that is often in the shape of a section of a circle and is waved back and forth by hand

b

: a device with a set of rotating blades driven by a motor

2

: something shaped like a hand fan

fanlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

fan

2 of 3 verb

fanned; fanning

1

: to move air with a fan

2

a

: to direct a current of air upon with a fan

b

: to stir up to activity as if by fanning

3

: to spread out or move like a fan

4

: to strike out in baseball

fanner noun

fan

3 of 3 noun

: an enthusiastic follower or admirer

Etymology

Noun

Old English fann "fan," from Latin vannus "fan"

Noun

probably a shortened form of fanatic