A fringe is hair which is cut so that it hangs over your forehead.
[British]regional note: in AM, use bangs
2. countable noun
A fringe is a decoration attached to clothes, or other objects such as curtains, consisting of a row of hanging strips or threads.
The jacket had leather fringes.
Synonyms: border, edging, edge, binding More Synonyms of fringe
3. countable noun [usu on theNof n]
To be on thefringe or thefringesof a place means to be on the outside edge of it, or to be in one of the parts that are farthest from its centre.
...black townships located on the fringes of the city. [+ of]
They lived together in a mixed household on the fringe of a campus.
Synonyms: edge, limits, border, margin More Synonyms of fringe
4. countable noun [usually plural]
Thefringe or thefringesof an activity or organization are its less important, least typical, or most extreme parts, rather than its main and central part.
The party remained on the fringe of the political scene until last year. [+ of]
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Fringe groups or events are less important or popular than other related groups or events.
The monarchists are a small fringe group who quarrel fiercely among themselves.
...the numerous fringe meetings held during the party conference.
More Synonyms of fringe
fringe in British English
(frɪndʒ)
noun
1.
an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc
2.
a.
an outer edge; periphery
b.
(as modifier)
fringe dwellers
a fringe area
3. (modifier)
unofficial; not conventional in form
fringe theatre
4. mainly British
a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead
5.
an ornamental border or margin
6. physics
any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light
verb(transitive)
7.
to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes
8.
to be a fringe for
fur fringes the satin
Derived forms
fringeless (ˈfringeless)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French frenge, ultimately from Latin fimbria fringe, border; see fimbria
fringe in American English
(frɪndʒ)
noun
1.
a border or trimming of cords or threads, hanging loose or tied in bunches
2.
a.
anything like this
a fringe of hair
b.
an outer edge; border; margin
at the fringes of the slums
3.
a part considered to be peripheral, extreme, or minor in relation to the main part
the lunatic fringe of a political party
4. US
fringe benefit
5. Optics
any of the light or dark bands resulting from the interference or diffraction of light
verb transitiveWord forms: fringed or ˈfringing
6.
to decorate with or as with fringe
7.
to be a fringe for; line
trees fringed the lawn
adjective
8.
at the outer edge or border
a fringe area of television reception
9. US
additional
fringe costs
10. US
less important; minor
fringe industries
Word origin
ME frenge < OFr frenge, fringe < VL *frimbia, metathesis of LL fimbria, a fringe, border < L fimbriae, shreds, fibers
Examples of 'fringe' in a sentence
fringe
The shorter the overall hair length, the shorter the fringe.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She may suddenly cut in a fringe and then you'll be sorry.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She then signalled to a Tory conference fringe meeting she may be willing to launch a passport design competition.
The Sun (2016)
If some on the wilder fringes of society have their way, he will be lucky to survive until his inauguration in January.
The Sun (2016)
Much more campaigning will take place on the conference fringe.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The time she cut off her fringe the day before being a bridesmaid.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So is this man the saviour of fringe theatre?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The brute is seen in a blue hoodie and with a floppy hair fringe.
The Sun (2010)
That group then moves to the fringes of society.
The Sun (2009)
For parents food provides extra fringe benefits.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
The right fringe of the party sets the tone.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Or cut a fringe to hide behind.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She may not have time for fringe theatre.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Since then he has continued to explore the fringes of society with his camera.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Conduct a wage and fringe benefit survey if necessary.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
All jellyfish have stinging tentacles to catch food but these moon jellies have only a short fringe along their outer edge.
The Sun (2009)
Melbourne, as a fire reached the forested fringes of the city.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
When your party was still just a ginger group on the fringes, it had little impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Often, the only thing that it takes to bring the fringe to the centre is exposure.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Still, by and large it is a fringe activity for most of us.
Christianity Today (2000)
The issue was one of the themes at the Times fringe meeting.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such language represents an extreme fringe but the Government is concerned.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Her makeover also included a new hairstyle - a short fringe.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Design was a fringe activity, a luxury addition to the serious business of making money.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Tonight I am addressing a conference fringe meeting.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In the process, the Arctic has moved from the fringes to the centre stage of international relations.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
For 50 years the green belts have done a good job, but now much of the land on city fringes is suffering degradation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
fringe
America
In other languages
fringe
British English: fringe /frɪndʒ/ NOUN
hair A fringe is hair which is cut so that it hangs over your forehead.
American English: bangs hair
Arabic: قُصَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: franja
Chinese: 边缘
Croatian: šiške
Czech: ofina
Danish: pandehår
Dutch: pony
European Spanish: flequillo
Finnish: otsatukka
French: frange
German: Pony Frisur
Greek: φράντζα
Italian: frangia
Japanese: 切下げ前髪
Korean: 가장자리
Norwegian: pannelugg
Polish: grzywka
European Portuguese: franja
Romanian: breton
Russian: челка
Latin American Spanish: flequillo
Swedish: lugg
Thai: ผมหน้าม้า
Turkish: kakül
Ukrainian: чубчик
Vietnamese: tóc mái
British English: fringe NOUN
clothes A fringe is a decoration attached to clothes, or other objects such as curtains, consisting of a row of hanging strips or threads.
The jacket had leather fringes.
American English: fringe
Brazilian Portuguese: franja
Chinese: 流苏
European Spanish: fleco
French: frange
German: Fransen
Italian: frangia
Japanese: ふさ飾り
Korean: 술 장식
European Portuguese: franja
Latin American Spanish: fleco
British English: fringe NOUN
place To be on the fringe or the fringes of a place means to be on the outside edge of it, or to be in one of the parts that are farthest from its center.
...black townships located on the fringes of the city.
American English: fringe
Brazilian Portuguese: franja
Chinese: 边缘
European Spanish: periferia
French: marge
German: Rand
Italian: margine
Japanese: 周辺部
Korean: 주변 테두리
European Portuguese: franja
Latin American Spanish: periferia
British English: fringe ADJECTIVE
Fringe groups or events are less important or popular than other related groups or events.
The monarchists are a small fringe group who quarrel fiercely among themselves.
American English: fringe
Brazilian Portuguese: periférico
Chinese: 边缘
European Spanish: alternativo
French: marginal
German: Rand-
Italian: marginale
Japanese: 非主流の
Korean: 비주류의
European Portuguese: periférico
Latin American Spanish: alternativo
All related terms of 'fringe'
fringe area
an area on an outer edge or periphery
fringe tree
either of two ornamental oleaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Chionanthus , of North America and China , having clusters of white narrow-petalled flowers
fringe group
a group that is on the periphery of a larger organization because its views are more extreme than the majority
bullion fringe
a thick gold or silver wire or fringed cord used as a trimming , as on military uniforms
fringe benefit
Fringe benefits are extra things that some people get from their job in addition to their salary , for example a car.
fringe benefits
an incidental or additional advantage , esp a benefit provided by an employer to supplement an employee's regular pay, such as a pension , company car, luncheon vouchers , etc
fringe festival
an unofficial , often unconventional , arts festival that is associated with another, larger festival
fringe meeting
a meeting that takes place during a convention and is attended only by people whose views are not central to the majority
fringe theatre
theatrical performance that is unconventional or otherwise distinct from the mainstream
lunatic fringe
If you refer to a group of people as the lunatic fringe , you mean that they are very extreme in their opinions or behaviour .