verb

fess

fehs

Fess (verb) means to admit or confess to something, usually after some hesitation. Example: “He finally fessed up to breaking the window.”

verb

To admit or confess to something, usually after some hesitation.

"He finally fessed up to breaking the window."

"She fessed up that she'd eaten the last slice of cake."

noun

In heraldry, a broad horizontal band running across the centre of a shield.

"The coat of arms showed a gold fess on a blue background."

adj

Informal: lively, bold, or full of energy.

"The puppy was feeling fess after its nap, racing circles round the yard."

How to use fess

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly used today in the phrase "fess up," meaning to own up to something.

Common mistake

Almost always appears as "fess up" in modern use; using bare "fess" as a verb elsewhere sounds old-fashioned.

Common pairings

fess up fess up to something

Word forms

fessed past tense, fesses plural, Fesses plural, fesses singular

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He finally _____ up to breaking the window.

Etymology

The verb is simply a shortened form of "confess." The heraldry sense comes separately from Old French fesse, ultimately from Latin fascia, "band" or "sash."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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Fez Fes fesse

Related words

fez

Rhymes for fess

ess less Jess mess ness Bess Tess Hess chess bless press stress

See all rhymes for fess →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fess” mean?

The word “fess” means to admit or confess to something, usually after some hesitation. In plain terms, mostly used today in the phrase "fess up," meaning to own up to something.

How do you pronounce “fess”?

“Fess” is pronounced fehs (/fɛs/ in IPA).

How do you use “fess” in a sentence?

Here is “fess” used in a sentence: “He finally fessed up to breaking the window.”

What part of speech is “fess”?

Depending on how it is used, “fess” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “fess” come from?

The word “fess” comes from Latin. The verb is simply a shortened form of "confess." The heraldry sense comes separately from Old French fesse, ultimately from Latin fascia, "band" or "sash.".

How many meanings does “fess” have?

“Fess” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to admit or confess to something, usually after some hesitation.

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