fad

Etymology

Of English dialectal origin. Further origin obscure. Possibly from Old English ġefæd (“order, decorum”) (compare Old English ġefæd (“orderly, tidy”), fadian, ġefadian (“to set in order, arrange”), whence Middle English faden (“to arrange”)); or from French fadaise ("a trifling thought"; see fadaise).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fæd/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æd

Noun

fad (plural fads)

1. A phenomenon that becomes popular for a very short time.
   • 2004, Andre R. Young, “Encore”, in Encore:

     You're a fad, that means you're something that we've already had, but once you're gone, you don't come back.

   • 2010, Eric J. Cesal, Down Detour Road: An Architect in Search of Practice, page 134:

     The pet rock fad was started by an advertising executive named Gary Dahl. The premise was simple: take ordinary rocks, glue eyes on them, and market them as pets.

Anagrams

• F.D.A., DFA, ADF, FDA, AfD, DAF, D.F.A., daf

Etymology

From French fade (“tasteless”), from Vulgar Latin *fatidus, blend of Latin fatuus and vapidus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɑːd̥/

Adjective

fad (comparative fader, superlative åm fadestn)

1. vapid, flavourless, bland
2. boring, bored

Etymology 1

From French fade, from Late Latin *fatidus, a blend of Latin fatuus (“foolish”) and vapidus (“vapid”).

Etymology 2

From Old Norse fat (“vat, vessel, luggage, clothing”).

Alternative forms

• fade (predominant in the northern half of Germany)

Etymology

From French fade (“tasteless”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /faːt/
• Homophones: Fahrt, Pfad (nonstandard)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːt

Adjective

fad (strong nominative masculine singular fader, comparative fader, superlative am fadesten or am fadsten)

1. (predominant in southern Germany and Austria) vapid, flavourless, bland

   Synonyms: schal, langweilig, geschmacklos

   Das Essen schmeckt fad. ― The food tastes bland.

2. (by extension) boring, bored

   Synonym: langweilig

   Das war ein fader Film. ― That was a boring film.

   Mir ist so fad. ― I am so bored.