English Reference
noun · verb

fantasy

n. · v.
US /ˈfænəsi/ UK /fˈɑːntəsi/ fan·ta·sy UK spelling fantasies, fantasy's, fantasying

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.the act of imagining things that are not real or likely to happen.

    n.the faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things; often used to describe a mental escape from reality.

    Simple

    He lived in a world of fantasy and rarely paid attention to his real problems.

    In context

    The architect's proposal was dismissed as pure fantasy, as it ignored the fundamental laws of physics and the city's strict budget constraints.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Theatre

    n.a type of story that features magic, monsters, and imaginary worlds.

    n.a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, typically set in a world distinct from the primary reality.

    Simple

    She loves reading fantasy novels about dragons and ancient kingdoms.

    In context

    The success of the series proved that high fantasy could attract a mainstream audience if the character development remained grounded in human emotion.

    speculative fiction
    non fictionrealism
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a specific idea or dream you have about something you want to happen.

    n.a specific mental image or sequence of events representing a person's desires.

    Simple

    It was her childhood fantasy to one day become a famous opera singer.

    In context

    The marketing campaign played on the consumer's fantasy of a stress-free life in the countryside, far from the noise of the city.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to imagine something or dream about it.

    v.to conceive of something mentally or to indulge in daydreams.

    Simple

    He would often fantasy a life where he was a brave explorer.

    In context

    The poet began to fantasy a landscape where the trees spoke in riddles and the rivers flowed with silver.

    Usage

    Often used transitively to describe the act of mental creation.

Ryan said the teenager had planned the deaths of family members in the form of fantasy fiction.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Invented languages tend to be the stuff of fantasy or science fiction worlds.

Phys.org· 12 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated