What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fancy
Example
The restaurant had a fancy decor with chandeliers and velvet curtains. [fancy: adjective]
Example
I have a fancy for chocolate ice cream. [fancy: noun]
Example
It's just a fancy idea, it won't work in reality. [fancy: adjective]
fanciful
Example
The story was full of fanciful creatures like unicorns and dragons. [fanciful: adjective]
Example
His fanciful ideas about time travel were interesting but not practical. [fanciful: adjective]
Example
The painting was a fanciful interpretation of the landscape, with bright colors and exaggerated features. [fanciful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fancy is more common than fanciful in everyday language, and it covers a wider range of contexts. Fanciful is less common and is often used in more literary or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fancy and fanciful?
Both fancy and fanciful are relatively formal words, but fancy is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while fanciful is more commonly used in formal or literary contexts.
