A fringe is the edge or outer boundary of something, the part that's farthest from the center. Think of a neighborhood: the houses on the fringe sit at the edges, bordering other areas or open land. When scientists explore the fringes of knowledge, they're working at the boundaries of what we currently understand, pushing into unknown territory.

The word also describes decorative threads or strips hanging from the edge of something. A cowboy jacket might have leather fringe dangling from the sleeves, or a fancy lampshade might have fabric fringe around its bottom edge. Piano shawls traditionally feature long, knotted fringe.

When describing ideas or groups, fringe can mean unusual or unconventional, existing outside the mainstream. A fringe theory in science is one that most scientists don't accept, sitting on the edges of accepted knowledge. Fringe benefits are the extra perks a job offers beyond salary, like health insurance or gym memberships.

In British English, what Americans call bangs is called a fringe because the hair hangs along the forehead's edge, framing the face.