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fringe

fringe

64 6.8
A small group whose ideas most people do not accept
  • noun
  • /frɪndʒ/
translation icon : grupo marginal
  • History teaches that the most revolutionary and disruptive innovation nearly always comes from the fringe, not from corporate cubicles.
  • fringe groups
  • the fringe of society
  • political fringe

Imagine the guys who are really on the fringe what they're going through.

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Examples

  • There's no way that a small fringe movement can take over the country.

  • Both boys hung around the fringe of the student social scene at Columbine High School.

    Academic text (1999)
  • So this was not a fringe group teaching this class.

  • And for a long time that was a really fringe position.

  • This is not fringe stuff anymore, right?

  • Any of your friends affiliated with any fringe organizations?

  • Because female student veterans can sometimes exist on the fringes of the general student body.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Escape and solitude will solve nothing for those who live on the fringes of society.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Finally, dozens of "Latino Fringe" districts are on the vanguard of this demographic shift.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The conference was organized by a fringe group advocating for radical environmental changes.

Synonyms

far left
vsfringe
28 6.3

A group in politics with very extreme left-wing views

is broader and applies to marginal or radical groups beyond political extremes
far-right
vsfringe
  • Literature
20 6.8

Having very strong right-wing political views that oppose social change

is broader, referring to marginal or radical positions not tied to one ideology
lunatic fringe
vsfringe
  • Offensive
4 8.8

People with very extreme political or social views who are outside the main group

is a broader term for marginal radicals not necessarily fanatical

Antonyms

175 2.8

Doing things in the usual way most people expect, not new or original

75 3.4

The ideas and activities most people accept as normal

Compounds

An extra thing an employer gives you besides pay, like health insurance or a car

lunatic fringe
  • Offensive
4 8.8

People with very extreme political or social views who are outside the main group

An idea most experts do not accept and that has little evidence

fringe tree
  • Specialized
9.2

A small tree or bush grown for its fragrant white flowers

9.4

A small bushy tree from the southeastern United States that has many white flowers

A small religious group with unusual beliefs and practices outside larger churches

9.9

A plant that lives many years in low leaf clumps with pale pink or cream fringed flowers in clusters

fringe-toed lizard
  • Specialized
8.9

A small desert lizard with long pointed scales on its toes that help it run on sand

interference fringe
  • Specialized
9.5

Bands of light and dark that appear when light waves meet and mix

How Mainstream

establishment
236 5.3
minority
754 3.5
fringe
64 6.8

Surface Forms

fringe singular
fringes plural

Etymology

Fringe comes from an old French word frange meaning 'border' or 'edge'. That's why a fringe group is a set of people at the 'edge' of a society or movement, outside the main group.