fictional

adjective

fic·​tion·​al ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce fictional (audio)
: 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
There 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
Besides scholarly writings and cultural criticism, he's turned out a fictional mystery series starring Edgar Allan Poe …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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fictional pair broke up several times and co-parented their daughter, Mikayla, before reuniting in season 10 and getting engaged in season 11. Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 Respawn will follows two rival e-sports teams navigating a high-stakes tournament for the fictional game ‘New Dawn,’ a tactical hero shooter. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025 The late November release should place the film squarely in competition to make the Academy’s Best Feature Documentary shortlist — IndieWire has confirmed Rich Spirit will target nonfiction awards with the innovative film that incorporates a fictional Afrofuturistic storyline. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025 Robert Sean Leonard, Josh Charles, and Gale Hansen starred alongside Hawke as classmates at the fictional Welton Academy. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fictional

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fictional was in 1834

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fictional. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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