fabricate

1 of 2

verb

fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-bri-ˌkāt 

fabricated; fabricating

transitive verb

1

a

: invent, create

b

: to make up for the purpose of deception

accused of fabricating evidence

2

: construct, manufacture

specifically : to construct from diverse and usually standardized parts

Their plan is to fabricate the house out of synthetic parts.

fabricator

ˈfa-bri-ˌkā-tər 

noun

fabricator

2 of 2

noun

fab·​ri·​ca·​tor -ātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that fabricates: such as

a

: one that invents a false statement or commits forgery : liar, forger

b

: an implement for fabricating

specifically : a neolithic flint used as a tool for fashioning other implements

c

: a workman who shapes, finishes, or assembles objects

d

: a firm or establishment that converts metal from one form into another compare fabrication sense 1c

Synonyms of fabricate

Verb

• produce
• make
• manufacture
• create

Examples of fabricate in a Sentence

Verb

Only the largest parts were fabricated at the factory.

Their plan is to fabricate the house out of synthetic materials.

a story fabricated to sell magazines

She was accused of fabricating data.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

His defense attorney Jacob Kaplan pushed back, saying Mann fabricated the allegation because of regret over the romance. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Defense attorneys will also prove that the allegations against King were fabricated as part of a larger conspiracy to install Saulter as the county sheriff, Daniel said. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026

Polymarket is in the hot seat after an investigation alleged that the prediction market paid influencers to film fake trades and fabricate winnings. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 23 June 2026

But when almost anyone can fabricate a visually similar image in seconds from a text prompt using artificial intelligence, how do people decide which image is real? — Nan Li, The Conversation, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fabricaten, borrowed from Latin fabricātus, past participle of fabricāre, fabricārī "to fashion, shape, construct," derivative of fabrica "process of making something, craft, art" — more at fabric

Noun

Latin, from fabricatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for fabricate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

fabricate

verb

fab·​ri·​cate ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt 

fabricated; fabricating

1

: invent sense 2, create

2

: to make up in order to deceive

fabricated evidence to support her claim

3

: construct sense 1, manufacture

fabrication

ˌfab-ri-ˈkā-shən

noun

fabricator

ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

fabricate

verb

fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-brə-ˌkāt 

fabricated; fabricating

transitive verb

: to make up (as testimony) with an intent to deceive

intransitive verb

: to make something up with an intent to deceive

there was a motive to fabricate

—Gary Taylor