fillip
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for fillip, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Something that gives a sudden boost, lift or stimulus to an activity, mood or market.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Something that gives a sudden boost, lift or stimulus to an activity, mood or market.
“The tax cut gave a welcome fillip to consumer spending.”
Opposites
2. noun dated
A quick flick made by pressing a finger against the thumb and releasing it sharply.
“He gave the cork a fillip and sent it skidding across the table.”
How to use fillip
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Chiefly journalistic and slightly formal; most common in British business and sports writing in the phrase "give a fillip to".
Etymology
Late Middle English, probably imitative of the sound of a finger being flicked from the thumb.
Full origin of fillip →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a fillip and a boost?
They mean much the same thing, but fillip is rarer, more formal and suggests a modest, well-timed lift rather than a large one. You would say a share price got a fillip from good news, but a rocket gets a boost.
Is fillip related to the name Philip?
No. The name Philip comes from Greek and means lover of horses, whereas fillip is an English word that probably imitates the snapping sound of a flicked finger. The similarity is coincidental.