The word fritter comes from the Latin frictura ("frying") by way of Old French and Middle English. It is used to refer to a number of fried foods.

In British fish and chip shops, the fish and chips can be accompanied by optional extras and many of these are called fritters, which means a food item (such as a pineapple ring or an apple ring or some mushy peas) fried in batter. Hence: pineapple fritter, apple fritter, pea fritter, etc.

Small cakes made with a primary ingredient, mixed with batter and fried, are found in many American cuisines. "Corn fritters" and "apple fritters" are well known. Fritters may use regular flour, cornmeal, or a mix. New England clam cakes, Maryland crab cakes, and Philadelphia scrapple are essentially varieties of fritter.

A fritter is also a variety of holeless doughnut, with apple flavoured ones being the most popular.