fantastic

1 of 2

adjective

fan·​tas·​tic fan-ˈta-stik 

fən-

variants or less commonly fantastical

fan-ˈta-sti-kəl 

1

a

: based on fantasy (see fantasy entry 1 sense 2) : not real

b

: conceived or seemingly conceived by unrestrained fancy

fantastic new space and nuclear weapons

—Jack Raymond

c

: so extreme as to challenge belief : unbelievable

a fantastic industrial complex of steel, coal, machine tools, and other heavy industries

—M. S. Handler

broadly : exceedingly large or great

spent fantastic sums on his library

2

: marked by extravagant fantasy or extreme individuality : eccentric

fantastic works of art

3

fantastic : excellent, superlative

a fantastic meal

fantasticality

(ˌ)fan-ˌta-stə-ˈka-lə-tē 

fən-

noun

fantasticalness

fan-ˈta-stə-kəl-nəs 

noun

fantastic

2 of 2

noun

: eccentric sense 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• absurd
• bizarre
• crazy
• fanciful
• foolish
• insane
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• unreal
• wild

Choose the Right Synonym for fantastic

fantastic, bizarre, grotesque mean conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality.

fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

bizarre applies to the sensationally strange and implies violence of contrast or incongruity of combination.

a bizarre medieval castle in the heart of a modern city

grotesque may apply to what is conventionally ugly but artistically effective or it may connote ludicrous awkwardness or incongruity often with sinister or tragic overtones.

grotesque statues on the cathedral

though grieving, she made a grotesque attempt at a smile

synonyms see in addition imaginary

Examples of fantastic in a Sentence

Adjective

The train runs at fantastic speeds.

a fantastic scheme for getting rich quick

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sperryville is a jumping-off point for several fantastic hikes, like the Hazel River Trailhead, which offers a challenging 12.7-mile out-and-back trail, and the 7.5-mile Little Devils Stairs Loop, which rewards climbers with several waterfalls and sweeping vistas. —Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024

Stevie’s voice is fantastic in telling some of the early days of the E Street. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2024

Noun

The Mother Goose title is a sign that while things might look normal, the fantastic informs this story. —Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2024

Since the end of World War II a quality of the fantastic has run through the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

fantastic going back to Middle English fantastik "of imagination as a faculty, produced by the imagination, not real, unfounded, false, supernatural," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French fantastique, borrowed from Late Latin phantasticus "of the imagination, deceptive, imaginary," borrowed from Greek phantastikós "able to produce the appearance of something, resulting from the imagination," from phantast- (stem in nominal derivation corresponding to phantasía "appearance, image, imagination" and phantázein "to make visible, present to the eye or mind, (middle voice) place before one's mind, imagine") + -ikos -ic entry 1; fantastical going back to Middle English fantasticalle, from fantastik + -alle -al entry 1 — more at fantasy entry 1

Noun

derivative of fantastic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fantastic

• trip the light fantastic

Kids Definition

fantastic

adjective

fan·​tas·​tic

fan-ˈtas-tik,

fən-

1

also fantastical

-ti-kəl

: produced by the imagination or like something produced by the imagination

a fantastic scheme

2

: extremely high or great

fantastic speeds

3

: excellent, great

a fantastic meal

fantastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb

fantasticalness

-kəl-nəs

noun