fairy

Other spellings

• faerie

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: fâʹrĭ, IPA ^(key): /ˈfɛəri/ or /ˈfɛərɪ/
• (US) enPR: fĕʹrē, IPA ^(key): /ˈfɛri/
• (AU) IPA ^(key): /ˈfeːri/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: ferry

Noun

Singular fairy

Plural fairies

A fairy.

1. (fiction) (folklore) (mythology) A type of human-like being with magical powers. In modern stories fairies are small with insect-like wings. In older stories they were human-size and very powerful, and sometimes dangerous.

   A fairy granted then each a wish.

   Some people say fairies live beneath the hills in Ireland.

2. (slang) (offensive) A homosexual man, usually one who is very feminine.

   I'm not sure that fairy even knows he's male.

Related words

• fairytale
• fairy godmother