fabric

noun

fab·​ric ˈfa-brik How to pronounce fabric (audio)
Synonyms of fabricnext
1
a
: structure, building
b
: underlying structure : framework
the fabric of society
2
: an act of constructing : erection
specifically : the construction and maintenance of a church building
3
a
: structural plan or style of construction
b
: texture, quality
—used chiefly of textiles
c
: the arrangement of physical components (as of soil) in relation to each other
4
a
: cloth sense 1a
b
: a material that resembles cloth
5
: the appearance or pattern produced by the shapes and arrangement of the crystal grains in a rock

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of fabric in a Sentence

The curtains are made of expensive fabric. scarves made of woven fabrics the fabric of the community
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As a lonely nerd in a suburb, there was something about the way that there were pop-cultural objects, at the last possible time when there was analog technology, that really wove into the fabric of your soul. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024 What seems like floral wallpaper (right) is actually an acoustically transparent fabric hiding the sound system for his home theater. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Nov. 2024 The look, executed with a single line of top lash liner and false lashes caked with black nail polish, has been woven into the fabric of my imagination ever since. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024 Many have been restored, re-illuminated and deeply threaded into the city’s fabric via nostalgia or necessity. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fabric 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French fabrique "act of construction, something created or constructed, the created world, structure, construction and maintenance of a church," borrowed from Medieval Latin fabrica, going back to Latin, "process of making something, craft, art, workshop," noun derivative from *fabricus "of a craftsman," from fabr-, faber "craftsman, smith" (perhaps going back to dialectal Indo-European *dhabh-r- —perhaps of non-Indo-European origin— whence also Armenian darbin "smith," from *dhabh-r-sneh2) + -icus -ic entry 1

Note: The Latin derivative fabrica may have been shortened from fabrica ars, perhaps literally "smith's craft, smith's place of work." The base *dhabh-r- has been compared with Gothic gadaban "to happen, be suitable" and a host of related words (see daft), though the semantic link is tenuous.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fabric was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing fabric

Dictionary Entries Near fabric

Fabre

fabric

fabricant

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Fabric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fabric. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

fabric

noun
fab·​ric ˈfab-rik How to pronounce fabric (audio)
1
: the basic structure
the fabric of society
2
: cloth sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on fabric

Nglish: Translation of fabric for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fabric for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fabric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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