Fanfare Meaning
/ˈfænfɛə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA flourish of trumpets or horns as to announce; a short and lively air performed on hunting horns during the chase.
nounA show of ceremony or celebration.
Sentence Examples
Tom celebrated his fortieth the other day, without fanfare or trumpets.
Tom celebrated his fortieth birthday the other day, without fanfare or trumpets.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new movie premiered with great ____, including fireworks and a live band.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new library was opened with much ____, including a brass band and a grand ribbon-cutting.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French fanfare; some senses apparently influenced by surface analysis, fan + fare.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This new locomotive was turned out of Doncaster works in May, 1934, to a mighty fanfare of trumpets."
— 1942 February, O. S. Nock, “The Locomotives of Sir Nigel Gresley: Part VII”, in Railway Magazine, page 44:
"I have arrived to catch the 0830 TfW service to Crewe, worked by a tatty and unrefurbished 175114. As if ashamed of its appearance, it slinks into Platform 2 (instead of Platform 1, where it was expected). No announcement had been made, and we leave without any fanfare."
— 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:
"Fans relished the traditional FA Cup fanfare from the Coldstream Guards and the hymn Abide With Me before throwing themselves wholeheartedly into an experience they have been largely deprived of since the first coronavirus lockdown began in March 2020."
— 2021 May 15, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-1 Leicester”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 12 Jul 2021:
"At this the trumpeters again most earnestly fanfared,"
— 1887, Truth - Volume 22, page 33:
"The miscreant is shamed into just standing there mortified and not fanfaring at all while the others finish the greeting to the arriving guest."
— 1993, James W. Gousseff, Street Mime, →ISBN, page 168:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new movie premiered with great ____, including fireworks and a live band.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new library was opened with much ____, including a brass band and a grand ribbon-cutting.