2 N‑COUNT If someone describes a man as a fairy , they mean that he is a homosexual and they disapprove of this. [OFFENSIVE , OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]
fai ry go d|mother N‑SING If you call a woman your fairy godmother , you are saying in a slightly humorous way that she has been very helpful in your life, often at times when you thought you had problems that could not be solved.
fairy|land /feə rilænd/ (fairylands )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fairyland is the imaginary place where fairies live.
2 N‑VAR If you describe a place as a fairyland , you mean that it has a delicate beauty. □ If you came with me to one of my toy shops, you'd think you were stepping into a fairyland.
fai ry lights N‑PLURAL Fairy lights are small, coloured electric lights that are hung up as decorations, for example on a Christmas tree. [BRIT ]
fai ry sto|ry (fairy stories ) N‑COUNT A fairy story is the same as a fairy tale .
fai ry tale (fairy tales ) also fairytale N‑COUNT A fairy tale is a story for children involving magical events and imaginary creatures. □ She was like a princess in a fairy tale.
fait ac|com|pli /fe I t əkɒ mpli, [AM ] - ækɔːmpliː / (faits accomplis ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something is a fait accompli , it has already been decided or done and cannot be changed. [FORMAL ] □ They became increasingly annoyed that they were being presented with a fait accompli.
faith ◆◇◇ /fe I θ/ (faiths )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you have faith in someone or something, you feel confident about their ability or goodness. □ [+ in ] She had placed a great deal of faith in Mr Penleigh. □ [+ in ] People have lost faith in the British Parliament.
2 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] A faith is a particular religion, for example Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam. □ He established a reputation as a steadfast defender of the Catholic faith.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Faith is strong religious belief in a particular God. □ Umberto Eco's loss of his own religious faith is reflected in his novels.
4 PHRASE If you break faith with someone you made a promise to or something you believed in, you stop acting in a way that supports them. □ If we don't, we're breaking faith with our people!
5 PHRASE If you do something in good faith , you seriously believe that what you are doing is right, honest, or legal, even though this may not be the case. □ This report was published in good faith but we regret any confusion which may have been caused.
6 PHRASE If you keep faith with someone you have made a promise to or something you believe in, you continue to support them even when it is difficult to do so. □ He has made one of the most powerful American films of the year by keeping faith with his radical principles.
7 → see also article of faith , leap of faith COLLOCATIONS faith NOUN
1
adjective + faith : blind, complete
verb + faith : keep, restore; lose; repay
3
adjective + faith : religious; deep, unwavering
verb + faith : shake, test
faith|ful /fe I θfʊl/
1 ADJ Someone who is faithful to a person, organization, idea, or activity remains firm in their belief in them or support for them. □ [+ to ] She had been faithful to her promise to guard this secret. □ Older Americans are among this country's most faithful voters. ● N‑PLURAL The faithful are people who are faithful to someone or something. □ He spends his time making speeches at factories or gatherings of the Party faithful. ● faith|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He has since 1965 faithfully followed and supported every twist and turn of government policy.
2 ADJ Someone who is faithful to their husband, wife, or lover does not have a sexual relationship with anyone else. □ [+ to ] She insisted that she had remained faithful to her husband.
3 ADJ A faithful account, translation, or copy of something represents or reproduces the original accurately. □ [+ to ] Colin Welland's screenplay is faithful to the novel. ● faith|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ When I adapt something I translate from one meaning to another as faithfully as I can.
faith|ful|ly /fe I θfʊli/
1 CONVENTION When you start a formal or business letter with 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam', you write Yours faithfully before your signature at the end. [BRIT ] in AM, use Sincerely yours 2 → see also faithful
fai th heal|er (faith healers ) N‑COUNT A faith healer is someone who believes they can treat and heal sick people using prayer or supernatural powers.
fai th heal|ing also faith-healing N‑UNCOUNT Faith healing is the treatment of a sick person by someone who believes that they are able to heal people through prayer or a supernatural power.
faith|less /fe I θləs/ ADJ If you say that someone is faithless , you mean that they are disloyal or dishonest. □ …a revenge plot against a faithless lover.
fake /fe I k/ (fakes , faking , faked )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fake fur or a fake painting, for example, is a fur or painting that has been made to look valuable or genuine, often in order to deceive people. □ The bank manager is said to have issued fake certificates. ● N‑COUNT A fake is something that is fake. □ It is filled with famous works of art, and every one of them is a fake.
2 VERB If someone fakes something, they try to make it look valuable or genuine, although in fact it is not. □ [V n] He faked his own death last year to collect on a $1 million insurance policy. □ [V -ed] …faked evidence.