fritter

1 of 2

noun

frit·​ter ˈfri-tər 

: a small mass of fried or sautéed batter often containing fruit or meat

fritter

2 of 2

verb

frittered; frittering; fritters

transitive verb

1

: to spend or waste bit by bit, on trifles, or without commensurate return

—usually used with away

2

: to break into small fragments

intransitive verb

: dissipate, dwindle

fritterer

ˈfri-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• cake
• croquette
• cutlet
• galette
• patty
• pattie

Verb

• blow
• dissipate
• fiddle away
• lavish
• lose
• misspend
• run through
• spend
• squander
• throw away
• trifle (away)
• waste

Examples of fritter in a Sentence

Noun

she loves eating corn fritters with maple syrup

Verb

quit frittering away the afternoon playing video games and get some housework done!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That includes many sumptuous cooking scenes, shot with all the care of Chef’s Table, in which Tita funnels her love into golden cream fritters and her devastation into pastel-pink icing. —Judy Berman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

Black beans can be cooked and served as a side dish, topped with cilantro and a dollop of sour cream, in a taco, or made into fritters. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2024

Verb

The Ravens extended their margin rather than fritter it away. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2024

Meanwhile, party gal Wren is busy smoking, binge drinking and fighting at night, as well as frittering her days away behind the counter at a stationery store (the only clever aspect of her character, who is physically and emotionally stationary in life). —Courtney Howard, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fritour, from Anglo-French friture, from Vulgar Latin *frictura, from Latin frictus, past participle of frigere to roast

Verb

fritter, noun (fragment, shred)

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1728, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing fritter

• fritter away

Kids Definition

fritter

1 of 2 noun

frit·​ter ˈfrit-ər 

: a small lump of fried batter often containing fruit or meat

fritter

2 of 2 verb

: to spend or use up bit by bit especially on worthless things

—usually used with away

frittered away his savings

fritterer

-ər-ər 

noun