fag
1 Americannoun
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Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.
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Offensive. a contemptible or dislikable person.
verb (used with object)
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to tire or weary by labor; exhaust (often followed byout ).
The long climb fagged us out.
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British. to require (a younger public-school pupil) to do menial chores.
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Nautical. to fray or unlay the end of (a rope).
verb (used without object)
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Chiefly British. to work until wearied; work hard.
to fag away at French.
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British Informal. to do menial chores for an older public-school pupil.
noun
noun
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informal a boring or wearisome task
it's a fag having to walk all that way
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(esp formerly) a young public school boy who performs menial chores for an older boy or prefect
verb
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informal to become or cause to become exhausted by hard toil or work
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(usually intr) to do or cause to do menial chores in a public school
Brown fags for Lee
noun
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a slang word for cigarette
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a fag end, as of cloth
noun
Sensitive Note
The terms fag and faggot are both used with disparaging intent and are perceived as highly insulting. However, faggot (but not fag ) is sometimes used within the gay community as a positive term of self-reference.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fagsimple
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fagssimple
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have faggedperfect
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has faggedperfect
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am faggingprogressive
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are faggingprogressive
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is faggingprogressive
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have been faggingperfect progressive
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has been faggingperfect progressive
Past
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faggedsimple
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had faggedperfect
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was faggingprogressive
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were faggingprogressive
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had been faggingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fag1
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; by shortening of faggot 1 ( def. )
Origin of fag2
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English fag(ge) “broken thread in cloth, a knot (in cloth), loose end” (further origin obscure); sense development apparently: “drooping end” to “droop, tire” to “make weary” to “drudgery, drudge” (compare flag 1 to flag 3 ); fag 2 ( def. 6 ) a shortening of fag end (“a butt,” hence a cigarette)
Explanation
Fag is mainly used as an offensive term for homosexuals. Although it has other meanings, you should probably avoid it at all costs. This is a very strong word that should be avoided in nearly all situations: fag (short for faggot) is a hateful slur against homosexuals. Because fag is such an offensive word, the other meanings are uncommon, but fagging has also meant working hard and getting tired, as in fagging out. A fag — especially in England — is also a cigarette, and in British boys’ schools, fags are servants for older boys.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the plan lacked detail and was "written on the back of a fag packet" to "assuage" anti-racism protests.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2020
In archival video from that day, a protester clambers to the top of the gates and sits there nonchalantly smoking a fag, while police in short-sleeved shirts look on in horror.
From The Guardian • Jun. 2, 2020
Afterwards, lead Studio E architect Bruce Sounes sent an email to Mr Harris of Harley saying his "back of a fag packet" figure for the cladding had been deemed over-budget, according to emails.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2020
But at the fag end of the year the boom evaporated, and, coupled with lower demand from China, led to a pile-up of unsold chips at distributors and retailers.
From Reuters • Feb. 15, 2019
And they laugh and drink their tea and smoke their Woodbines and tell one another the fag is the only comfort they have.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
