Standard Lemma guide

Fabian

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • 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.

  • Aragonese: Fabián — male given name
  • Catalan: Fabià — male given name
  • Faroese: Fabian — male given name
  • French: Fabien — male given name
  • Galician: Fabián — male given name
  • Galician: Fabiano — male given name
  • Galician: Fabio — male given name
  • German: Fabian — male given name
  • Hungarian: Fábián — male given name
  • Italian: Fabiano — male given name
  • Polish: Fabian — male given name
  • Portuguese: Fabiano — male given name
  • Russian: Фабиа́н (Fabián) — male given name
  • Spanish: Fabián — male given name
  • Swedish: Fabian — male given name