fondness

noun

fond·​ness ˈfän(d)-nəs How to pronounce fondness (audio)
1
obsolete : foolishness, folly
2
: tender affection
3
: appetite, relish
had a fondness for argument

Examples of fondness in a Sentence

my fondness for you will never fail I have a fondness for expensive chocolate.
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.
Jamie looks at me, fondness and something like regret in his warm brown eyes. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 12 June 2025 His fondness for Viktor Gyokeres is well established, although a deal could prove difficult to do from a financial perspective before sales. James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 June 2025 While no date for a meeting between the two leaders has been set, their longtime fondness has long caused widespread alarm across the West. Keir Simmons, NBC news, 20 May 2025 Now, our enduring fondness for this classic layout is revealing itself in the architectural design of our 2025 Idea House near Charlottesville, Virginia. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fondness

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fondness was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fondness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fondness. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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