fritter

1 of 2

noun

frit·​ter ˈfri-tər How to pronounce fritter (audio)
: a small mass of fried or sautéed batter often containing fruit or meat

fritter

2 of 2

verb

frittered; frittering; fritters

transitive verb

1
: to spend or waste bit by bit, on trifles, or without commensurate return
usually used with away
2
: to break into small fragments
fritterer noun

Examples of fritter in a Sentence

Noun she loves eating corn fritters with maple syrup Verb quit frittering away the afternoon playing video games and get some housework done!
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
Small bites such as the taco and cod fritter are nicely paired with standout new cocktail programming that also leans into local flavors. Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 From an outdoor kitchen emerged a lavish feast: bruschetta topped with mangrove clams; squash soup with snails; fish fritters; sea-bass kinilaw—ceviche’s Filipino cousin—cured with lime and young-coconut vinegar. Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025
Verb
Yet even with those absences, the Twins continue to find themselves on the cusp of victory only to fritter it away. Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 June 2025 Getting to your most important work, rather than frittering the day away. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fritter

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fritour, from Anglo-French friture, from Vulgar Latin *frictura, from Latin frictus, past participle of frigere to roast

Verb

fritter, noun (fragment, shred)

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1728, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fritter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fritter. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

fritter

1 of 2 noun
frit·​ter ˈfrit-ər How to pronounce fritter (audio)
: a small lump of fried batter often containing fruit or meat

fritter

2 of 2 verb
: to spend or use up bit by bit especially on worthless things
usually used with away
frittered away his savings
fritterer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fritter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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