fairytale

Other forms: fairytales

A fairytale is a magical story for children, like "Cinderella" or "Rumpelstiltskin." If you read a story that begins, "Once upon a time," chances are it's a fairytale.

A story doesn't have to include any fairies at all to be considered a fairytale. Fairytales are typically full of magic spells, princesses, talking animals, evil queens, witches, and goblins. Disney would probably not be in business if it weren't for fairytales. You can also use the word to describe some part of real life that seems almost magical, like a "fairytale romance."

Definitions of fairytale

1. noun

   a story about fairies; told to amuse children
   synonyms: fairy story, fairy tale

   type of:

   narration, narrative, story, tale

   a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
2. noun

   an interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse
   synonyms: cock-and-bull story, fairy story, fairy tale, song and dance

   type of:

   fib, story, tale, taradiddle, tarradiddle

   a trivial lie