little lord fauntleroy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (as a literary/cultural reference); Very Low (as a descriptive term)Literary, historical, cultural, mildly pejorative (when used figuratively).
Quick answer
What does “little lord fauntleroy” mean?
The title character of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1886 novel, a young American boy who inherits an English earldom.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title character of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1886 novel, a young American boy who inherits an English earldom.
A term describing a boy or man dressed in an old-fashioned, excessively ornate, or delicate manner, often with long, curly hair. Figuratively, a person who is seen as excessively well-mannered, affectedly noble, or naively virtuous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to be recognised in the UK due to the story's English aristocratic setting. In the US, it is a recognised cultural reference but may be less immediately familiar.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties: old-fashioned, foppish, overly genteel. The American context adds a layer of transatlantic contrast (American innocence vs. English aristocracy).
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech in both regions. Used primarily in writing or historical/cultural commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “little lord fauntleroy” in a Sentence
He/she is a (veritable) Little Lord Fauntleroy.They dressed the child up as Little Lord Fauntleroy.With his velvet suit, he looked like Little Lord Fauntleroy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “little lord fauntleroy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a rather Little-Lord-Fauntleroy air about him.
American English
- The portrait had a Little Lord Fauntleroy feel to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, cultural studies, or historical fashion analysis.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used humorously or critically to describe a child's overly formal outfit.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “little lord fauntleroy”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “little lord fauntleroy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “little lord fauntleroy”
- Misspelling: 'Fauntleroy' as *'Fauntelroy', *'Fontleroy'.
- Misunderstanding: Using it to simply mean a 'little lord' rather than referencing the specific character and its connotations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it often carries a mildly critical or mocking tone when applied to a real person, suggesting they are affected, old-fashioned, or overly delicate. When discussing the literary character, it is neutral.
It is highly unusual, as the reference is explicitly to a male character. A similar term for a girl might be 'princess' or 'little madam'.
No, but you need to be aware of the cultural stereotype it evokes: a boy with long, curly hair dressed in a velvet suit with a lace collar.
No, it is quite archaic. You will encounter it mainly in older texts or as a deliberate, colourful allusion in modern writing or speech.
The title character of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1886 novel, a young American boy who inherits an English earldom.
Little lord fauntleroy is usually literary, historical, cultural, mildly pejorative (when used figuratively). in register.
Little lord fauntleroy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪt(ə)l ˌlɔːd ˈfɔːntlərɔɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪt(ə)l ˌlɔːrd ˈfɔːntləˌrɔɪ, ˈfɑːnt-/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms; the term itself is an idiomatic reference]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FAUNT-leroy: it sounds like 'FANCY-Troy' – a fancy boy from a story.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS CHARACTER (old-fashioned, delicate clothing maps onto an old-fashioned, delicate personality).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of calling someone 'a Little Lord Fauntleroy' today?