Single-phase diluted magnetic systems Zn1-xFexO have been prepared by chemical route.Structural and spectroscopic (UV-Vis and M(o)ssbauer) studies indicate the incorporation of Fe3+ ions in the lattice sites.The UV-Vis results point to a systematic increase in the band gap with increasing Fe doping.The room temperature magnetization of Zn1-xFexO indicates a paramagnetic behavior which is in accordance with the M(o)ssbauer results,illustrating quadrupolar doublet.At low temperature,the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization shows a cusp and this temperature increases systematically with decreasing particle size.The weak exchange bias effect manifested by a M-H loop shift is observed for x =0.03.This shift is accompanied by the enhancement of coercivity.The dc magnetization results suggest the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions for low doping of Fe,i.e.,for x =0.03.