Sprite vs. Fairy — What's the Difference?

A small or elusive supernatural being; an elf or pixie.

A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, German, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural. Myths and stories about fairies do not have a single origin, but are rather a collection of folk beliefs from disparate sources.

An elflike person.

A small imaginary being of human form that has magical powers, especially a female one

(Meteorology) A large, dim, red flash that appears above active thunderstorms in conjunction with lightning.

A Central and South American hummingbird with a green back and long tail.

(Archaic) A spirit, specter, or ghost.

A male homosexual.

(mythology) A spirit; a soul; a shade.

An imaginary being in human form, depicted as clever, mischievous, and possessing magical powers.

An apparition; ghost

Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a gay man.

(mythology) An elf; a fairy; a goblin.

The realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion.

(computer graphics) A two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.

A mythical being with magical powers, known in many sizes and descriptions, although often depicted in modern illustrations only as a small sprite with gauze-like wings, and revered in some modern forms of paganism.

An electrical discharge that occurs high above the cumulonimbus cloud of an active thunderstorm.

An enchantress, or creature of overpowering charm.

The green woodpecker, or yaffle (Picus viridis).

A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.

(entomology) Any of various African damselflies of the genus Pseudagrion (of which, Australian species are named riverdamsels).

A member of two species of hummingbird in the genus Heliothryx.

A spayed female ferret.

A legendary Chinese immortal.

(obsolete) frame of mind, disposition

Like a fairy; fanciful, whimsical, delicate.

A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.

Enchantment; illusion.

An elf; a fairy; a goblin.

The country of the fays; land of illusions.

The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See Elf, and Demon.

Small, human in form, playful, having magical powers

An enchantress.

Of or pertaining to fairies.

Given by fairies; as, fairy money.

Small, human in form, playful, having magical powers

Offensive terms for an openly homosexual man