Fun

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /fʌn/

Definitions

1. An experience or situation causing happiness or laughter; an event designed to entertain or amuse; the characteristic of being playful and lighthearted
2. The feeling of delight and amusement derived from engaging activities; any occasion that generates enjoyment or pleasure; possessing an entertaining and spirited nature
3. The quality of providing amusement or enjoyment through playful or entertaining activities; an event or experience that brings laughter and pleasure; characterized by lively and cheerful behavior

Etymology: The noun "fun" began as a cheat. In the 1680s it was a verb meaning to cheat or trick someone, and by 1700 the noun meant a hoax or a practical joke played on a person. The sense of diversion and amusement only appeared in the 1720s, so the pleasant meaning is younger than the swindle that produced it. The older sense survives in phrases like "to make fun of," first recorded in 1737, where the joke is still at someone else's expense. Use of "fun" as an adjective, as in "a fun day," is newer still and comes from readers treating the noun as if it could modify other nouns. That habit was already emerging in the mid-19th century. Its exact origin is uncertain. It may be linked to a Middle English word meaning "foolish" or "make a fool of," related to Swedish "fånig" (foolish), or it may have been influenced by "fjäll" (rock or mountain). Some scholars instead connect it to a Middle English word for a young woman, though this is less widely accepted.

Synonyms: enjoyment, amusement, entertainment, pleasure, delight

Antonyms: boredom, unhappiness, displeasure, sorrow, misery