Fictional
/ˈfɪkʃənəl/
Definitions
Existing only in imagination or as a creation of the mind.
/ˈfɪkʃənəl/
Relating to or denoting works of fiction and characters and events within them; imagined; not real.
The author created a fictional world for her novel.
💡 Simply: Something that's not real, like the characters in your favorite storybooks or movies. It's all made up!
👶 For kids: Pretend or make-believe. Not real!
More Examples
The detective investigated the crime scene to determine if the evidence pointed to a fictional scenario.
Children often enjoy playing with fictional characters in their games.
How It's Used
"The novel is about fictional characters and their interactions."
"The movie presents a fictional account of the events."
"Historians try to separate fact from fictional accounts of the past."
Idioms & expressions
fictional character
A person or being in a fictional story.
"Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional character created by Arthur Conan Doyle."
fictional account
A story or narrative that is not based on real events, and is invented.
"The film presented a fictional account of the historical event, with added drama."
From Late Latin *fictionalis*, from Latin *fictio* ("a shaping, a feigning, a fiction").
The word 'fictional' gained prominence in the 19th century with the rise of novels and the increasing distinction between fact and fiction.
Memory tip
Think of a fiction book, it has a fictional story!