imaginary

imag·i·nary

adjective \i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē, -ˌne-rē\

Definition of IMAGINARY

1

a : existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

b : formed or characterized imaginatively or arbitrarily <his canvases, chiefly imaginary, somber landscapes — Current Biography>

2

: containing or relating to the imaginary unit <imaginary roots>

— imag·i·nari·ly \i-ˌma-jə-ˈner-ə-lē\ adverb

— imag·i·nari·ness \-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē-nəs\ noun

Examples of IMAGINARY

1. The two groups were separated by an imaginary line down the middle of the room.
2. an imaginary world of dragons and unicorns

First Known Use of IMAGINARY

14th century

Related to IMAGINARY

Synonyms

chimerical (also chimeric), fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic (also fantastical), fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical (or mythic), notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visonary

Antonyms

actual, existent, existing, real

Related Words

fabled, legendary, romantic; abstract, hypothetical, theoretical (also theoretic); unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized; daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric (or phantasmagorical); concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive; inexistent, nonexistent

Near Antonyms

authentic, genuine, true; factual, verifiable, verified; believable, convincing, realistic; corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial; palpable, tangible

Synonym Discussion of IMAGINARY

imaginary, fanciful, visionary, fantastic, chimerical, quixotic mean unreal or unbelievable. imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination <an imaginary desert isle>. fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination <a teller of fanciful stories>. visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization <visionary schemes>. fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief <a fantastic world inhabited by monsters>. chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic <chimerical dreams of future progress>. quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense <a quixotic crusade>.

Rhymes with IMAGINARY

apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, contemporary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, preliminary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, vocabulary, voluptuary

imag·i·nary

adjective \im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of IMAGINARY

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality <imaginary fears> <an imaginary illness>