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Definition and meaning of English word "fairy tale"

fairy tale

/ˈfɛəri teɪl/

Meaning

Noun

A folktale or literary story featuring fairies or similar fantasy characters.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language team

How to use

The term 'fairy tale' is often used in a figurative sense to describe a situation that is unrealistic or fanciful. It is commonly used in formal and informal contexts, but may sound out of place in highly technical or academic writing. A common learner mistake is to use 'fairy tale' as a synonym for 'lie' or 'falsehood', when in fact it typically connotes a sense of wonder or enchantment.

🇬🇧 English

fairy tale

Example

I used to love reading fairy tales when I was a child.

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Synonyms

folktalefablelegend

Common phrases

  • happily ever after— happily ever after
  • once upon a time— once upon a time
  • magic kingdom— magic kingdom

More Culture & Art words

This concept in other languages

Frequency rank: #1161 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "fairy tale" mean?▼

The English word "fairy tale" means "fairy tale" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "fairy tale"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "fairy tale" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "fairy tale"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I used to love reading fairy tales when I was a child." (which translates as "fairy tale").

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