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noun Uncommon

fanfare

FAN-feh-uh
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Fanfare (noun) means a short, triumphant burst of trumpets or horns played to announce something. Example: “A fanfare of trumpets announced the king's arrival.”

noun
1
A short, triumphant burst of trumpets or horns played to announce something.
"This new locomotive was turned out of Doncaster works in May, 1934, to a mighty fanfare of trumpets." — O. S. Nock, The Locomotives of Sir Nigel Gresley: Part VII (1942)
"A fanfare of trumpets announced the king's arrival."
"They played a short fanfare to announce the arrival of the king."
2
A showy display of celebration or publicity.
"The product launched with great fanfare."

How to use fanfare

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA musical flourish announcing something important, or by extension, a big showy celebration.

Common pairings
with great fanfare a fanfare of trumpets without fanfare
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Word forms

Plural
fanfares
Third person singular
fanfares
Past tense
fanfared
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ of trumpets announced the king's arrival.

Etymology

Borrowed from French fanfare.

Origin: French

Related words

Rhymes for fanfare

See all rhymes for fanfare →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fanfare” mean?
The word “fanfare” means a short, triumphant burst of trumpets or horns played to announce something. In plain terms, a musical flourish announcing something important, or by extension, a big showy celebration.
How do you pronounce “fanfare”?
“Fanfare” is pronounced FAN-feh-uh (/ˈfænfɛɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fanfare” in a sentence?
Here is “fanfare” used in a sentence: “A fanfare of trumpets announced the king's arrival.”
What part of speech is “fanfare”?
“Fanfare” is a noun.
Where does the word “fanfare” come from?
The word “fanfare” comes from French. Borrowed from French fanfare.
Is “fanfare” a common word?
“Fanfare” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fanfare” have?
“Fanfare” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, triumphant burst of trumpets or horns played to announce something.

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