What does fard mean?
Fard denotes cosmetic paint or makeup applied to the face — particularly the heavy, deliberate kind worn by actors, clowns, and courtiers of earlier centuries. The word entered English from Old French, where "fard" meant face paint, and it carries an unmistakably antique flavour: modern English speakers almost invariably say "makeup" instead, leaving "fard" to survive in literary, historical, and theatrical contexts. It can also function as a rare verb meaning to apply such cosmetics, as in "she farded her cheeks with rouge." Because it rhymes with common words like "guard" and "card," readers may stumble over it, and its spelling invites confusion with "fared," the past tense of "fare." Though obsolete in daily speech, "fard" remains useful to writers evoking periods when faces were painted boldly — the powdered courts of the seventeenth century, the greasepainted stages of Victorian theatre — offering a compact, historically resonant alternative to the modern vocabulary of cosmetics.
Cosmetic paint or makeup for the face, especially heavy or theatrical face paint.
"The mime reapplied his white fard before the afternoon performance."
Archaic to literary in register; chiefly encountered in historical writing about costume, theatre, and cosmetics.
To apply cosmetic paint or makeup to the face.
"Courtiers would fard their faces pale in imitation of aristocratic fashion."
Rare and distinctly old-fashioned; usually found only in literary or historical prose.
The plural is uncommon, since the word itself is rare; when used, it typically refers to different kinds or colours of face paint.
"Her dressing table was crowded with pots of fards and powders."
"Fard" sounds rude, looks archaic, and yet simply means face paint — Shakespeare's era wore it by the pound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fard
English borrowed "fard" from Old French, in which "fard" denoted face paint or makeup. The Old French word is generally traced to a Germanic source relating to colour or dyeing. The term was adopted into English during the early modern period, when face painting at court and on stage made such vocabulary current, though it has since fallen almost entirely out of ordinary use.
How fard is actually used
The word is archaic and largely literary today, surviving mainly in historical or poetic writing about costume and theatre; everyday speakers say "makeup." The verbal use is rarer still and can sound affected or old-fashioned.
Easily confused with fard
"Fared" is the past tense of the verb "fare" (to get on or manage), while "fard" refers to facial cosmetics.