fringe

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: an ornamental border consisting of short straight or twisted threads or strips hanging from cut or raveled edges or from a separate band
a lampshade with a fringe
2
a
: something resembling a fringe : edge, periphery
often used in plural
operated on the fringes of the law
working for years on the fringes of the entertainment industry
b
chiefly British : bang entry 4
wears her hair in a fringe
c
: one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light
d
: an area bordering a putting green on a golf course with grass trimmed longer than on the green itself
3
a
: something that is marginal, additional, or secondary to some activity, process, or subject
a fringe sport
b
: a group with marginal or extremist views
the politically conservative fringe
fringy adjective

fringe

2 of 2

verb

fringed; fringing ˈfrin-jiŋ How to pronounce fringe (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to furnish or adorn with a fringe
2
: to serve as a fringe for : border

Examples of fringe in a Sentence

Noun a lampshade with a fringe a fringe of moss around the tree a party on the political fringe Verb A jungle fringed the shore. the orchestral pit fringed the edge of the stage
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Many people are treating Jones as a fringe RB2 but he should be viewed as a high to mid-end BR2. Steve Bradshaw, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Silhouettes are shifting quickly with micro styles in shorts and skirts appearing in high street stores, and while fringe is still popular at brands like Dior and Prada, the western trend is fading from view for spring. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
Directly in front of us, a window framed a postcard-perfect view of the sea, fringed by mountains, trees, and fuchsia bougainvillea. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024 Some of the key highlights were the vibrant color palettes, bold silhouettes and voluminous designs, alongside structured looks, elegant dresses and the playful use of fringing. Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fringe 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fringe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English frenge, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *frimbia, from Latin fimbriae (plural)

Verb

verbal derivative of fringe entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fringe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fringe

Cite this Entry

“Fringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fringe. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fringe

1 of 2 noun
1
: an ornamental border consisting of hanging threads or strips
2
: something suggesting a fringe
lived on the fringe of the forest

fringe

2 of 2 verb
fringed; fringing
1
: to provide or decorate with a fringe
fringed a buckskin jacket
2
: to serve as a fringe for : border
a jungle fringed the shore

Medical Definition

fringe

noun
often attributive
: one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light

More from Merriam-Webster on fringe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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