fad

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈfad How to pronounce fad (audio)
Synonyms of fad
: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish
ˈfa-dish How to pronounce fad (audio)
adjective
faddishly adverb
faddishness noun
faddism
ˈfa-ˌdi-zəm How to pronounce fad (audio)
noun
faddist
ˈfa-dist How to pronounce fad (audio)
noun
faddy
ˈfa-dē How to pronounce fad (audio)
adjective

FAD

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˌef-ˌā-ˈdē How to pronounce FAD (audio)
: flavin adenine dinucleotide

faddy

3 of 3

adjective

fad·​dy ˈfadē How to pronounce faddy (audio)
ˈfaad-, 
-di
-er/-est
: faddish

Synonyms of fad

Relevance

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for fad

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of fad in a Sentence

Noun (1) She's always interested in the latest fads. once the fad for that kind of music had passed, nobody would have been caught dead listening to it
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
Although fad diets and weight-loss programs promise fast results, the payoff is often short-lived. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 19 June 2026 Instead of chasing the latest fads, MRC pursues the boldest talent. — Brent Lang, Variety, 18 June 2026
Noun
Narrative podcasts couldn’t be written off as a fad. — Eric Benson, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025 This eating plan is considered a fad diet. — Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fad

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1867, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fad was in 1867

Rhymes for fad

See All Rhymes for fad

Browse Nearby Words

facy
fad
FAD
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fad. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fad

noun
ˈfad How to pronounce fad (audio)
: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddish
ˈfad-ish How to pronounce fad (audio)
adjective
faddist
ˈfad-əst How to pronounce fad (audio)
noun
faddy
ˈfad-ē How to pronounce fad (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on fad

Nglish: Translation of fad for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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