fairy
/ˈfɛə̯ɹi/
A supernatural being characterized by magical powers and often depicted as small, winged, and human-like. The image is typically associated with nature, whimsy, and a certain ethereal lightness. In modern contexts, the word carries a strong connotation of innocence and childhood fantasy. It differs from 'sprite' or 'pixie' in that it is more generic; while pixies are often portrayed as mischievous or pranksters, fairies can range from helpful guardians to aloof, otherworldly entities. Outside of folklore, it is used metaphorically to describe something delicate, fragile, or impossibly light (e.g., "fairy-like"). In specific idioms, it can refer to a person who performs a task with unexpected ease or invisibility, such as a "fairy godmother" providing sudden, miraculous assistance.
Referring to the individual mythical creatures.
💬Casual Conversation
Ugh, my bank account is looking rough after that grocery trip.
Maybe the grocery fairy will magically pay it off for you.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
fairy godmother
a magical being, often depicted as an old woman, who grants wishes, especially to a child.
In the story, the fairy godmother appeared to help Cinderella.
fairy tale
a story for children with magical creatures and events, such as fairies and witches.
Cinderella is a classic fairy tale.
fairy wings
the delicate, often translucent wings attributed to fairies.
The child loved her new costume with sparkly fairy wings.
fairy dust
a magical powder, often associated with fairies, used to grant wishes or enable flight.
The fairy sprinkled fairy dust to make the flowers grow.
fairy lights
small, decorative electric lights, often used at Christmas or for ambiance.
They decorated the garden with strings of fairy lights.
Idioms & Sayings
fairy-tale ending
a happy and perfect conclusion to a story or situation, similar to those in fairy tales.
After many struggles, they finally had a fairy-tale ending to their relationship.
like a fairy
in a delicate, graceful, or magical manner.
She moved across the stage like a fairy.
Etymology
The word 'fairy' originates from the Old French word 'faerie', which referred to enchantment or the realm of the supernatural. This, in turn, derived from the Latin 'fata', meaning 'the Fates'. The word entered Middle English in the 14th century, initially referring to enchantment or magic itself, and later evolving to denote the supernatural beings associated with that magic.