Fanfics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of informal literature created by fans that utilizes existing characters and storylines from original works while exploring alternative plotlines or character developments
2. Creative narratives written by enthusiasts, often featuring beloved characters from books, movies, or television, typically shared within fandom communities
3. Works of fiction produced by fans that reinterpret or expand upon original source material, allowing for imaginative scenarios that diverge from official narratives

Etymology: "Fanfics" is simply the plural of "fanfic," a clipping of "fan fiction," so the history lies in the two words it shortens. "Fan" is a clipping of "fanatic," which was borrowed into English in the 16th century from French "fanatique," itself drawn from Latin "fānāticus," meaning "inspired by a deity" or "frenzied," and rooted in "fānum," a temple. The sense of extreme devotion that "fanatic" carried was later shortened to "fan," which by the late 19th century meant an enthusiastic admirer of a sport, performer, or other pursuit. "Fiction" entered English in the 14th century from Old French and Latin "fictio," from "fingere," to shape or invent, so the stories it names are, at root, things made up. "Fan fiction" was then formed by joining the two, and "fanfic" came from trimming that compound down, a common pattern in English for familiar terms.

Synonyms: fan fiction, fan literature, fan stories, fan writings, fan narratives