Fictitious
/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
Definitions
Created or made up; not real or true.
/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
Not real or true; imaginary
The detective investigated the case of a fictitious murder.
💡 Simply: Like when you make up a story, or pretend something is real when it isn't. Imagine telling your friends you have a pet dragon. That would be a fictitious pet!
👶 For kids: Not real; like a story you make up!
More Examples
The author created a fictitious character to advance the plot.
The company presented fictitious sales figures.
How It's Used
"The novel revolves around a fictitious town in the American South."
"The company was accused of using fictitious profits to inflate its stock price."
From Latin *ficticius* meaning 'feigned, fabricated,' derived from *fictus*, the past participle of *fingere* 'to form, shape, invent.'
The word 'fictitious' has been used since the late 16th century, initially to describe something artificial or fabricated, particularly in literary contexts.
Memory tip
Think of a *fiction* story—it's *fictitious*! The word helps you remember the story isn't real.