fart

1 of 2

verb

ˈfärt How to pronounce fart (audio)
farted; farting; farts

intransitive verb

informal + impolite
: to expel intestinal gas from the anus

fart

2 of 2

noun

1
informal + impolite : an expulsion of intestinal gas
2
informal + impolite : a foolish or contemptible person
couldn't stand the old fart

Examples of fart in a Sentence

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.
Verb
The foreign sounds made his face crimp, as if somebody right next to him had farted. — Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 Or, on the other hand, how many scenes in the canon depict farting (not a lot of them). — Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Noun
Rushdie does not linger, unlike most farts. — Literary Hub, 4 May 2026 Driving that old fart Miss Daisy kicked our ass. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fart

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ferten, farten; akin to Old High German ferzan to break wind, Old Norse freta, Greek perdesthai, Sanskrit pardate he breaks wind

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fart was in the 13th century

Rhymes for fart

See All Rhymes for fart

Browse Nearby Words

farsightedness
fart
fart around
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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