Phrase guide

idée fixe

noun · 2 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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  • /ˌiː.deɪ ˈfiːks/

1

noun

Meaning 1

An idea dominating the mind and maintained despite evidence to the contrary; (loosely), an obsession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fixed idea

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A recurring musical theme; a leitmotif.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French idée fixe (literally “fixed idea”).

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: idee-fixe — idea dominating the mind
  • Finnish: päähänpiintymä — idea dominating the mind
  • French: idée fixe — idea dominating the mind
  • French: marotte — idea dominating the mind
  • Galician: teima — idea dominating the mind
  • Greek: έμμονη ιδέα (émmoni idéa) — idea dominating the mind
  • Hungarian: fixa idea — idea dominating the mind
  • Italian: idea fissa — idea dominating the mind
  • Manx: smooinaght chianglt — idea dominating the mind
  • Norwegian Bokmål: fiks idé — idea dominating the mind
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: fiks idé — idea dominating the mind
  • Polish: idée fixe — idea dominating the mind
  • Romanian: idee fixă — idea dominating the mind
  • Russian: иде́я фикс (idéja fiks) — idea dominating the mind
  • Russian: иде́я-фикс (idéja-fiks) — idea dominating the mind
  • Russian: идефи́кс (idɛfíks) — idea dominating the mind
  • Spanish: piñón fijo — idea dominating the mind
  • Spanish: idea fija — idea dominating the mind
  • Swedish: fix idé — idea dominating the mind
  • Turkish: saplantı — idea dominating the mind
  • Turkish: idefiks — idea dominating the mind
  • Turkish: fikrisabit — idea dominating the mind
  • Turkish: sabit fikir — idea dominating the mind
  • Ukrainian: іде́я фікс (idéja fiks) — idea dominating the mind
  • Ukrainian: іде́я-фікс (idéja-fiks) — idea dominating the mind