fictional
adjective
fic·tion·al
ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl 
: of, relating to, characterized by, or occurring in fiction : invented by the imagination
a fictional story/character
fictional dialogue
Over the past 15 years, Noble has created a fantastical, awe-inspiring fictional city called Nobson Newtown, which he renders in painstakingly detailed pencil drawings …—
Steve Rose
Steve RoseThere are several surprises about stories. The first is that we spend a great deal of time in fictional worlds, whether in daydreams, novels, confabulations or life narratives. When all is tallied up, the decades we spend in the realm of fantasy outstrip the time we spend in the real world.—David Eagleman
David EaglemanBesides scholarly writings and cultural criticism, he's turned out a fictional mystery series starring Edgar Allan Poe …—Edward Lewine
Edward Lewine
fictionally
adverb
… a film that documents the history of space science and fictionally portrays a journey to the moon …
—Lynn Baker et al.
Lynn Baker et al.
Synonyms of fictional
Examples of fictional in a Sentence
the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time of its publication in 1889, this hyperbolic lament for a fictional character—Lucien being the hero of Honoré de Balzac’s Lost Illusions (1837-43)—must have seemed an elegant provocation.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Tilda Swinton and George MacKay play members of a fictional Ministry of Not Forgetting who chronicle the six-decade career of Faithfull and prove the singer and actress was more than just Mick Jagger's girlfriend.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
The song from fictional band Huntr/x (in real life, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) was written by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, the hospital in The Pitt, is a fictional hospital.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
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Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Tilda Swinton and George MacKay play members of a fictional Ministry of Not Forgetting who chronicle the six-decade career of Faithfull and prove the singer and actress was more than just Mick Jagger's girlfriend.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
The song from fictional band Huntr/x (in real life, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) was written by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, the hospital in The Pitt, is a fictional hospital.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fictional. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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