What does fixing mean?
Fixing is the act of repairing something that is broken or faulty, or of attaching and securing something firmly in place. It functions both as a noun, describing this activity, and as a countable noun in its own right — particularly in British English, where 'fixings' refers to the screws, bolts, anchors, and brackets used to mount objects to walls and other surfaces. The word also carries a darker register: 'fixing' can describe the dishonest manipulation of an outcome, as in price fixing among competitors or the fixing of a sporting contest, where it implies collusion and unfairness. In the American South, 'fixing to' serves as a distinctive colloquialism meaning 'about to' or 'preparing to'. Derived from the verb 'fix', which ultimately traces back to Latin figere, meaning to fasten, the word is indispensable in everyday talk about maintenance, construction, and assembly, appearing constantly in household, industrial, and technical contexts.
The act or process of repairing, attaching, or securing something; also, a device such as a screw, bolt, or bracket used to fasten one thing to another (chiefly British).
"The electrician checked all the fixings before switching the power back on."
The hardware sense typically appears in the plural and is primarily a British usage.
Engaged in repairing, adjusting, attaching, or fastening something.
"He was out in the garage fixing his bicycle chain."
As a countable noun referring to hardware devices, the plural 'fixings' is standard, especially in British English DIY and construction contexts. In American English, 'the fixings' more commonly means food accompaniments.
"The flat-pack furniture included all the fixings needed for assembly."
In the American South, 'I'm fixing to leave' has nothing to do with repairs — it means you're about to do something, a usage dating back centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fixing
The word derives from the verb 'fix', borrowed into English from French 'fixer' in the late medieval or early modern period, ultimately rooted in the Latin verb figere, meaning 'to fasten' or 'to fix firmly'. This same Latin root gave English a family of related terms including fixture, affix, prefix, and transfix. The sense of 'fixing' as dishonest arrangement of outcomes developed later, alongside the broader figurative uses of 'fix'. Its use as a noun for hardware fasteners became established especially in British trade and DIY vocabulary.
Related word forms
How fixing is actually used
The hardware sense ('a fixing') is chiefly British and usually appears in the plural in DIY contexts. The verbal sense covers both repair and attachment, and context usually disambiguates. The colloquial 'fixing to' meaning 'about to' is characteristic of Southern US speech and informal register. In senses involving dishonesty (fixing a match, price fixing), the word carries negative connotations.
Easily confused with fixing
A fixture is a permanently installed item or fitting (or a long-standing event), while a fixing is either the act of securing something or a small hardware device such as a screw or bolt.
In American English, 'the fixings' refers to accompaniments or trimmings for a meal (as in 'all the fixings'), whereas 'fixing' refers to repairing, securing, or a hardware fastener.