adj · name · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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fā′bē-ən
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfeɪ.biː.ən/
Canada, General-American:/ˈfeɪ.bi.ən/
Australian, New-Zealand:/ˈfæɪ.biː.ən/
Scotland:/ˈfe.bi.ən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪbiən
CMU ARPABET:F EY1 B IY0 AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Pertaining to or reminiscent of Roman general Fabius Maximus, whose tactics against Hannibal during the Second Punic War famously consisted of delaying or avoiding combat, focusing instead on weakening the enemy by cutting off supply lines.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Alternative form of Fabian.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
name
Meaning 5
A male given name from Latin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
name
Meaning 6
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gradualist, reformist, social democrat
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective
Meaning 8
of or relating to Fabianism
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the Fabian society
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
adjective satellite
Meaning 9
using cautious slow strategy to wear down opposition; avoiding direct confrontation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a fabian policy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
a member of the Fabian Society in Britain
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: socialist
History
Etymology
From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.
Across languages
Translations
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.