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REFERENCE

fantastic

adj.
US //fænˈtæstɪk// UK //fɑːntˈæstɪk// fan·tas·tic
  1. 1 excellent (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    extremely good, attractive, or enjoyable.

    extraordinarily good or impressive; frequently used as an informal intensifier for positive experiences.

    Example

    We had a fantastic time at the beach yesterday because the weather was perfect.

    Example

    The performance was absolutely fantastic, earning a standing ovation from even the most cynical critics in the audience.
  2. 2 imaginary (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    strange or wonderful because it comes from your imagination or a story.

    relating to or existing in fantasy; characterized by imaginative or supernatural elements.

    Example

    The book is full of fantastic creatures like dragons and talking trees.

    Example

    The artist is known for creating fantastic landscapes that blend biological forms with mechanical structures in a dreamlike way.
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  1. 3 hard to believe (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    so strange or large that it is difficult to believe it is real.

    so extreme or unusual as to be almost unbelievable; often used to describe large amounts or strange claims.

    Example

    He told a fantastic story about meeting a famous movie star in the supermarket.

    Example

    The company's growth was based on a fantastic set of assumptions that eventually led to its financial collapse.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French fantastique, borrowed from Late Latin phantasticus, borrowed from Ancient Greek φᾰντᾰστῐκός (phăntăstĭkós, “imaginary, fantastic; fictional”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Equivalent to fantasy + -tic. Doublet of fantastique.

Word family

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