fruitcake
noun
fruit·cake
ˈfrüt-ˌkāk 
plural fruitcakes
1
: a rich cake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits, spices, and usually alcohol (such as rum or brandy)
2
: a foolish or eccentric person
The roommate once thought of as a fruitcake is the candidate likeliest to be our next Secretary of State.—
Erich Segal
Erich Segal
also, sometimes offensive
: someone who is not mentally sound
"… The guy on the tape's a fruitcake. And he has a rifle. You are not safe here." —Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy Examples of fruitcake in a Sentence
children in the neighborhood once regarded the reclusive scientist as a fruitcake
he agreed to an evaluation so they could see he wasn't a fruitcake
Recent Examples on the Web
The finish is long, sweet, and fruity with lingering fruitcake notes, dark chocolate, and a rich, oaky finish.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Continuing to be angry and hold grudges can be like strapping a 40-pound fruitcake to your neck—a burden that can be nuts and hard to carry.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Even to a fruitcake skeptic, the cake recipes in Nature's Candy look delicious.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Classics like gingerbread, fruitcake, and pumpkin pie wouldn’t be the same without it.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fruitcake
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Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Continuing to be angry and hold grudges can be like strapping a 40-pound fruitcake to your neck—a burden that can be nuts and hard to carry.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Even to a fruitcake skeptic, the cake recipes in Nature's Candy look delicious.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Classics like gingerbread, fruitcake, and pumpkin pie wouldn’t be the same without it.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fruitcake
Cite this Entry
“Fruitcake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruitcake. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fruitcake
noun
fruit·cake
ˈfrüt-ˌkāk
: a rich cake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits, and spices
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