If you describe an idea as fanciful, you disapprove of it because you think it comes from someone's imagination, and is therefore unrealistic or unlikely to be true.
[disapproval]
...fanciful ideas about Martian life.
Designing silicon chips to mimic human organs sounds fanciful.
Synonyms: unreal, wild, ideal, romantic More Synonyms of fanciful
2. graded adjective
If you describe the appearance of something as fanciful, you mean that it is unusual and elaborate rather than plain and simple.
The economic gloom of the early 1980s was relieved by fanciful architecture.
fanciful in British English
(ˈfænsɪfʊl)
adjective
1.
not based on fact; dubious or imaginary
fanciful notions
2.
made or designed in a curious, intricate, or imaginative way
3.
indulging in or influenced by fancy; whimsical
Derived forms
fancifully (ˈfancifully)
adverb
fancifulness (ˈfancifulness)
noun
fanciful in American English
(ˈfænsəfəl)
adjective
1.
full of fancy; indulging in fancies; imaginative in a playful way; whimsical
2.
created in the fancy; imaginary; not real
a fanciful tale
3.
showing fancy in construction or design; quaint; odd
fanciful costumes
Derived forms
fancifully (ˈfancifully)
adverb
fancifulness (ˈfancifulness)
noun
Examples of 'fanciful' in a sentence
fanciful
Is he concerned that some items have been given fanciful names to disguise inferior food?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
She tempers my more fanciful ideas on a daily basis.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Perhaps it is not too fanciful to think of teaching mathematics through dance.
Evans, Peter & Deehan, Geoff The Descent of Mind - the how and why of intelligence (1990)
Racing before then is a fanciful notion.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is not such a fanciful idea.
The Sun (2012)
It was always fanciful to think that wind and solar farms could stop global warming.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Many may dismiss these notions as absurdly fanciful.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Alongside these practical ideas were more fanciful ones.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
It is not entirely fanciful to think that dolphins can be our friends too.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
From bottom three to top four would appear a fanciful notion.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Nor is the idea entirely fanciful.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Given the paucity of alternatives, a senior cap is not entirely fanciful.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But he forecast courts will soon be entirely electronic and suggested it was not entirely fanciful that computers could one day replace judges.
The Sun (2016)
It isn't fanciful to think it could happen again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now, such an idea seems fanciful at best.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It should be straightforward, but the idea seems fanciful.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A taste for the elegant may be said to appear in their fanciful decorations of military display.
Ben Macintyre JOSIAH THE GREAT: The True Story of The Man Who Would Be King (2004)
It may not be too fanciful to think that she could win over the judges' hearts as well.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That is a fanciful notion but his total commitment to his master plans could rise to as much as 500m.
The Sun (2008)
That is a fanciful notion.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Everyone knows that this is rather fanciful, if well-intentioned.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Not only was this rather fanciful with six mouths to feed, but I ended up spending a fortune at the local farm shop.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
fanciful
British English: fanciful ADJECTIVE
If you describe an idea as fanciful, you disapprove of it because you think it comes from someone's imagination, and is therefore unrealistic.