Fun

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fÊŒn/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒn

Origin

From Middle English fon, fonne ("foolish, simple, silly"), probably of origin, related to Swedish fånig ("foolish"), Swedish fåne ("a fool"). Compare also Norwegian fomme, fume ("a fool"). More at fon.

Alternative etymology connects Middle English fonne to Old Frisian fonna, fone, fomne, variant forms of Old Frisian fāmne, fēmne ("young woman, virgin"), from Proto-Germanic *faimnijǭ ("maiden"), from Proto-Indo-European *peymen- ("girl"), *poymen- ("breast milk"). If so, then cognate with Old English fǣmne ("maid, virgin, damsel, bride"), West Frisian famke ("girl"), Eastern Frisian fone, fon ("woman, maid, servant," also "weakling, simpleton").

Full definition of fun

Adjective

1. (informal) enjoyable, amusingWe had a fun time at the party.He is such a fun person to be with.
2. (informal) whimsical, flamboyantThis year's fashion style is much more fun than recent seasons.

Usage notes

fun is often confused with funny. The difference is that fun things make you happy, while funny things make you laugh.

Note that the use of fun as an adjective is often considered unacceptable in formal contexts.

For more on the slang comparative and superlative, the use of which is disputed, see this discussion

Derived terms

• funny

Noun

1. amusement, enjoyment or pleasure
• 2000, Robert Stanley, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop 6, Alpha Books, page 377Grafting your boss's face onto the hind end of a donkey is fun, but serious fun is when you create the impossible and it looks real.
2. playful, often noisy, activity.

Synonyms

• (enjoyment, amusement) amusement, diversion, enjoyment, a laugh, pleasure
• (playful, often noisy, activity) boisterousness, horseplay, rough and tumble

Derived terms

Verb

1. (colloquial) To tease, kid, poke fun at, make fun of.Hey, don't get bent out of shape over it; I was just funning you.

Anagrams

• FNU NFU, unf