Fancy vs. Fantasy — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 23, 2024
"Fancy" can refer to something that is elaborate, decorative, or sophisticated in nature, often linked to higher quality or intricate design, while "fantasy" denotes an imaginative scenario, often unrealistic and rooted in creative thought or fiction.
Difference Between Fancy and Fantasy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fancy is a term often used to describe objects, events, or styles that are particularly ornate, luxurious, or sophisticated. It implies a level of refinement and possibly extravagance that is visually impressive or aesthetically pleasing. Fantasy, on the other hand, refers to mental scenarios disconnected from current reality, embracing elements of the supernatural, futuristic, or purely imaginative.
When talking about preferences or desires, to fancy something means to feel an attraction or a liking towards it, showing a personal preference. In contrast, a fantasy involves scenarios or ideas that are conceived in the mind as a form of escapism or creative expression, often without any expectation of them becoming reality.
In literature and art, fancy is used to describe works or styles that are intricate and highly detailed, suggesting a craftsmanship or artistic flair that is out of the ordinary. Fantasy, however, is a genre of literature and other forms of media that explicitly explores magical, mythical, or unreal worlds and situations, often with a narrative that challenges conventional limits.
The execution of fancy items often requires high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship, focusing on aesthetics and design. Fantasy creation, however, emphasizes story elements, world-building, and the breaking of the boundaries of the typical experience, primarily engaging the audience’s imagination.
Fancy events or attire are associated with high social standards, such as galas or formal gatherings, where there is an expectation of sophistication and decorum. Fantasy elements in social contexts might appear in themed parties or entertainment where the aim is to indulge in fun and imaginative deviations from the norm.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Elaborate, decorative, sophisticated
Imaginative, unreal, creative
Context
Material objects, events, style
Mind, narratives, imaginative scenarios
Purpose
To impress, showcase sophistication
To escape, entertain, explore possibilities
Typical Use
High-quality materials, skilled craftsmanship
Storytelling, world-building
Social Association
Formality, luxury
Creativity, escapism
Compare with Definitions
Fancy
Elaborate in structure or decoration.
The gala featured fancy decorations and elaborate dresses.
Fantasy
A genre of speculative fiction.
Fantasy literature is popular for its rich narratives and complex characters.
Fancy
Sophisticated or fashionable.
The restaurant's fancy interior attracted a chic crowd.
Fantasy
A mental image or a series of thoughts that escape reality.
Daydreaming about winning the lottery is a common fantasy.
Fancy
Reflecting a desire or whim without much seriousness.
On a fancy, they drove to the coast for the sunrise.
Fantasy
Unrealistic or improbable scenarios.
Her plan to travel the world without a budget remains a mere fantasy.
Fancy
Of high quality or expensive.
He has a fancy for gourmet foods and fine wines.
Fantasy
Creative imagination unrestricted by reality.
His latest novel delves into a fantasy world of dragons and magic.
Fancy
To imagine or feel a desire for.
She fancies a trip to Europe next summer.
Fantasy
Used to describe scenes or elements that are wildly imaginative.
The movie's fantasy sequences are breathtaking and colorful.
Fancy
Something imagined or invented by the mind
"As the fancies that kept crowding in upon him only made him more excited, he got out of bed and tried to think." (Sherwood Anderson).
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction set in a fictional universe, often inspired by real world myth and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama.
Fancy
Highly decorated
A fancy hat.
Fantasy
The faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things
His researches had moved into the realms of fantasy
A fantasy world
Fancy
Complex or intricate
The fancy footwork of a figure skater.
Fantasy
A fantasia.
Fancy
Elegantly fashionable or sophisticated
A fancy restaurant.
A fancy way of asking for a loan.
Fantasy
Imagine the occurrence of; fantasize about
It is ludicrous to fantasy ‘disinventing’ the hydrogen bomb
Fancy
Of superior grade; fine
Fancy preserves.
Fantasy
The creative imagination; unrestrained fancy.
Fancy
Excessive or exorbitant
Paid a fancy price for the car.
Fantasy
Something, such as an invention, that is a creation of the fancy.
Fancy
Bred for unusual qualities or special points.
Fantasy
A capricious or fantastic idea; a conceit.
Fancy
The mental faculty through which whims, visions, and fantasies are summoned up; imagination, especially of a whimsical or fantastic nature.
Fantasy
A genre of fiction or other artistic work characterized by fanciful or supernatural elements.
Fancy
A capricious liking or inclination
I have a fancy for a glass of wine.
Fantasy
A work of this genre.
Fancy
A romantic liking or interest
She's taken a fancy to you.
Fantasy
An imagined event or sequence of mental images, such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need.
Fancy
The enthusiasts or fans of a sport or pursuit considered as a group.
Fantasy
An unrealistic or improbable supposition.
Fancy
The sport or pursuit, such as boxing, engaging the interest of such a group.
Fantasy
(Music) See fantasia.
Fancy
To have a liking or enthusiasm for
Fancies sports cars.
Fantasy
A coin issued especially by a questionable authority and not intended for use as currency.
Fancy
To have a desire or inclination for
Would you fancy a cup of coffee?.
Fantasy
(Obsolete) A hallucination.
Fancy
To take a romantic interest in (someone)
Do you think he fancies her?.
Fantasy
Relating to or being a game in which participants act as owners of imaginary sports teams whose personnel consists of actual players selected from a professional sports league and team performance is determined by the combined statistics of the players.
Fancy
To imagine or suppose
"I fancy she is an exceedingly proud woman" (Jane Austen).
Fantasy
To imagine; visualize.
Fancy
The imagination.
Fantasy
That which comes from one's imagination.
Fancy
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
Fantasy
(literature) The literary genre generally dealing with themes of magic and the supernatural, imaginary worlds and creatures, etc.
Fancy
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
Fantasy
A fantastical design.
Fancy
A whim.
I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
Fantasy
(slang) The drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid.
Fancy
Love or amorous attachment.
He took a fancy to her.
Fantasy
To fantasize (about).
Fancy
The object of inclination or liking.
Fantasy
(obsolete) To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like.
Fancy
Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
The cat fancy
Fantasy
(transitive) To imagine; to conceive mentally.
Fancy
The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.
Fantasy
Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice; humor.
Is not this something more than fantasy ?
A thousand fantasiesBegin to throng into my memory.
Fancy
A diamond with a distinctive colour.
Fantasy
Fantastic designs.
Embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread.
Fancy
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
Fantasy
To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like; to fancy.
Which he doth most fantasy.
Fancy
A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.
A French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies
Fantasy
Imagination unrestricted by reality;
A schoolgirl fantasy
Fancy
(obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
Fantasy
Fiction with a large amount of fantasy in it;
She made a lot of money writing romantic fantasies
Fancy
In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
Fantasy
Something many people believe that is false;
They have the illusion that I am very wealthy
Fancy
Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.
This is a fancy shawl.
Fancy
Of a superior grade.
This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.
Fancy
Executed with skill.
He initiated the game-winning play with a fancy deked saucer pass to the winger.
Fancy
(colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.
Fancy
(obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
Fancy
(nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.
Fancy
(formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.
Fancy
(British) would like
I fancy a burger tonight for dinner.
Do you fancy going to town this weekend?
Fancy
To imagine, suppose.
[dated] I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.
I fancy this is an error.
Fancy meeting you here!
Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
You won't get the gig just because you fancy yourself a musician.
Fancy
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.
Fancy
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
Fancy
(transitive) To breed (animals) as a hobby.
Fancy
The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination.
In the soulAre many lesser faculties, that serveReason as chief. Among these fancy nextHer office holds.
Fancy
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit.
How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ?
Fancy
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression.
I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
Fancy
Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking.
To fit your fancies to your father's will.
Fancy
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
Fancy
A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy.
Fancy
To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
Fancy
To love.
Fancy
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
Fancy
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
Fancy
To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal).
He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen.
Fancy
Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes.
Fancy
Extravagant; above real value.
This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
Fancy
Something many people believe that is false;
They have the illusion that I am very wealthy
Fancy
Fancy was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than imagination
Fancy
A predisposition to like something;
He had a fondness for whiskey
Fancy
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy
Fancy
Have a fancy or particular liking or desire for;
She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window
Fancy
Not plain; decorative or ornamented;
Fancy handwriting
Fancy clothes
Common Curiosities
How is fantasy used in storytelling?
In storytelling, fantasy is used to create imaginative scenarios that often involve magic, mythical creatures, or unreal worlds, providing an escape from reality.
What does it mean when something is described as fancy?
Something described as fancy is considered to be elaborate, sophisticated, often expensive, and visually impressive.
How does one's fancy differ from their preference?
Fancy can imply a more whimsical or less serious interest compared to a preference, which denotes a stronger and more consistent inclination.
What are typical elements of fantasy in media?
Typical elements include magical powers, mythical beings, epic quests, and alternative universes.
What distinguishes fancy from luxury?
Fancy often emphasizes ornate and decorative aspects, while luxury denotes high quality and comfort, often with a high price.
Can a person be considered fancy?
Yes, describing a person as fancy might refer to their refined, stylish, and sophisticated manner or appearance.
Why do people enjoy fantasy?
People enjoy fantasy for its escapism, the thrill of exploring new and imaginative worlds, and the excitement of experiencing the impossible.
Can fancy be a verb?
Yes, "fancy" can be used as a verb meaning to imagine or feel a desire for something.
Is fantasy relevant in any other fields besides literature and film?
Fantasy is also relevant in fields like video games, art, and role-playing games, where it enriches the creative landscape and enhances interactive experiences.
What role does fancy play in consumer culture?
In consumer culture, fancy items or experiences are often marketed as desirable for their sophistication, unique design, or status-enhancing qualities.
How do events become categorized as fancy?
Events are considered fancy if they require formal attire, feature high-end decor, and involve elaborate arrangements.
How do fancy and fantasy influence fashion?
Fancy influences fashion through intricate and luxurious designs, while fantasy can inspire fashion with costumes and styles that are imaginative and unconventional.
What are the psychological benefits of engaging with fantasy?
Engaging with fantasy can boost creativity, provide mental relaxation, and allow emotional exploration through vicarious experiences.
What makes a book a fantasy novel?
A book is typically classified as a fantasy novel if it contains elements like magical powers, mythical beings, and other supernatural phenomena set in a fictional universe.
How is fancy perceived in different cultures?
Fancy might be perceived differently across cultures, with some valuing understated elegance and others appreciating more ornate and showy expressions of sophistication.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
