# fantasy

/ˈfænəsi/ (US) · /fˈɑːntəsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fantasy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. imagination

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- He lived in a world of fantasy and rarely paid attention to his real problems.
- 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. literary/film genre

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- She loves reading fantasy novels about dragons and ancient kingdoms.
- The success of the series proved that high fantasy could attract a mainstream audience if the character development remained grounded in human emotion.

### 3. a specific imagined idea

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: a specific mental image or sequence of events representing a person's desires.

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

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to imagine something or dream about it.

For teachers: to conceive of something mentally or to indulge in daydreams.

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

## Examples

- She loves reading epic fantasy novels about dragons.
- The film blends gritty realism with moments of pure fantasy to show the child's inner world.
- While some critics dismiss the genre as mere escapism, modern fantasy often serves as a sophisticated vehicle for exploring complex sociopolitical themes through the lens of myth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.