: characteristic of or suitable to a fairy tale
especially
: marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck, or happiness
led a fairy-tale life
a store clerk's fairy-tale romance
1
a
: a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins)
enjoyed the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid"
called also fairy story
b
: a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending
… those balletic fairy tales in which a new corps member steps in for an injured principal at the last minute and delivers a splendid performance.—
Margaret Willis
Margaret Willis2
: a made-up story usually designed to mislead
Don't fall for the fairy tale going around that offshore drilling will lessen our dependence on foreign oil …—Reginald T. Dogan
Reginald T. DoganExamples of fairy-tale in a Sentence
Noun
the fairy tale about the sleeping princess
Everything he told us about his happy marriage was just a fairy tale.
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The fairy-tale qualities continue as Betty shows off the contents of her bedraggled herb garden to her new ward, plucking out an edible flower for Laura to sample.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
Like a magic potion in a fairy tale, these liquid cleanses promised clear skin, strong nails, shiny hair, and gut health.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairy-tale
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Adjective
Playful and fast-paced adventure where wolves step into the spotlight to share what really happened with Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, and other fairy-tale friends.
—Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The fairy-tale qualities continue as Betty shows off the contents of her bedraggled herb garden to her new ward, plucking out an edible flower for Laura to sample.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
Since her fairy tale transition from Hollywood actress to Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle has firmly established herself as a modern fashion icon.
—Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
Like a magic potion in a fairy tale, these liquid cleanses promised clear skin, strong nails, shiny hair, and gut health.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairy-tale
Cite this Entry
“Fairy-tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairy-tale. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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