1
: violin
2
: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship
3
: fiddlesticks
—used as an interjection
4
fiddled; fiddling
ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ 
ˈfid-liŋ
ˈfid-liŋ
1
: to play on a fiddle
1
: to play (something) on a fiddle
fiddle a tune
3
: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain
accountants fiddling the books—
Stanley Cohen
Stanley CohenExamples of fiddle in a Sentence
Noun
an expert with the fiddle
arrested for a tax fiddle
Verb
Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Recent Examples on the Web
Marina Watts, People.com, 27 May 2025
Folk musicians including fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, flute, and concertina players are welcome to participate as well as those who just want to listen to jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and waltzes.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
The earphones do a good job with the stereo balance, though, making the electric guitar and fiddle all the more dynamic.
—PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddle
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Noun
Gus Cannon, who played banjo, trombone, fiddle, piano, guitar, and other instruments, served as a mentor for Johnny Cash.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 27 May 2025
Folk musicians including fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, flute, and concertina players are welcome to participate as well as those who just want to listen to jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and waltzes.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Verb
Most of them are multi-instrumentalists who can switch from fiddling to keyboards to percussion just for fun and variety.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
The earphones do a good job with the stereo balance, though, making the electric guitar and fiddle all the more dynamic.
—PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddle
Cite this Entry
“Fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fiddle
1 of 2 noun
fid·dle
ˈfid-ᵊl
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