fanciful
UK: ˈfænsɪfl | US: ˈfænsɪfl
adj. imaginative or whimsical, often unrealistically so
adj. marked by elaborate or intricate design
adj. based on fantasy rather than reason
The word "fanciful" combines "fancy," derived from Middle English "fantasy" (via Old French "fantaisie"), meaning "imagination" or "whimsical idea," with the suffix "-ful," which turns nouns into adjectives meaning "full of." Originally, "fancy" itself traces back to Greek "phantasia" (appearance, imagination). Over time, "fanciful" evolved to describe things overflowing with imaginative or unrealistic qualities, often with a playful or decorative connotation.
The children spun fanciful tales about dragons and hidden treasures.
Her dress was adorned with fanciful embroidery of mythical creatures.
The architect’s fanciful designs were praised for their creativity but criticized for impracticality.
He dismissed the theory as a fanciful notion with no scientific basis.
The artist’s fanciful paintings transported viewers to dreamlike worlds.