fable

play

noun fa·ble \ ˈfā-bəl \

Definition of fable

:a fictitious narrative or statement: such as

a :a legendary story of supernatural happenings

Minerva is in fables said, from Jove without a mother to proceed
—Sir John Davies

b :a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially :one in which animals speak and act like human beings

The theme of the fable was the folly of human vanity.

c :falsehood, lie

The story that he won the battle single-handedly is a mere fable.

See fable defined for English-language learners

See fable defined for kids

Examples of fable in a Sentence

a fable about busy ants
The story that he won the battle single-handedly is a mere fable.
He combines fact and fable to make a more interesting story.

Recent Examples of fable from the Web

With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs.

— michelle matthews | mmatthews@al.com, AL.com, "Things to do in Mobile, Aug. 13-19," 13 Aug. 2017
The 2014 French adventure-fable has been expertly dubbed into English with voice talents that include Rob Lowe, Patton Oswalt, and Ed Helms.

— kathleen craughwell, latimes.com, "The Moviegoer, Aug. 6-12," 4 Aug. 2017
The museum is creating an art exhibit in October featuring life-size dioramas of famous witches in history and fable.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 31 July 2017
The museum is creating an art exhibit in October featuring life-size dioramas of famous witches in history and fable.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 31 July 2017
Just about everyone who has ever read a children's book knows the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

— michal lev-ram, Fortune, "How Lyft Could Defeat Uber," 19 July 2017
Telltale hasn't dished out many details, with most of the release focused on the success of the first game and of the Fables comics.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Telltale reveals Wolf Among Us 2, a final Walking Dead season, and another Batman," 19 July 2017
The Marilyn fable contains flashes of the ordinary: Norma Jeane Mortenson was, after all, once just a foster child from the skids of Los Angeles.

— rachel syme, New Republic, "How the New Twin Peaks Made Television Strange Again," 10 July 2017
Beauty and the Beast or The Enormous Wound Teresa Barcelo of Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre is featured in this new musical fable; in English and Portuguese; part of DuoFest.

— matt cooper, latimes.com, "The week ahead in L.A. dance, July 9-16: Savion Glover and more," 9 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fable

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fabula conversation, story, play, from fari to speak — more at ban

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

fable Synonyms

Synonyms

apologue, allegory, parable

Antonyms

fact, materiality, reality

Related Words

beast fable, bestiary; morality play; legend, myth, mythology, narrative, tale

Near Antonyms

actuality, realness

fable

verb

Definition of fable

fabled; fabling play \ˈfā-b(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

archaic :to tell fables

transitive verb

:to talk or write about as if true

—

fabler

play \ˈfā-b(ə-)lər\ noun

Origin and Etymology of fable

see ¹fable

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

FABLE Defined for English Language Learners

fable

play

noun

Definition of fable for English Language Learners

: a short story that usually is about animals and that is intended to teach a lesson
: a story or statement that is not true

FABLE Defined for Kids

fable

play

noun fa·ble \ ˈfā-bəl \

Definition of fable for Students

1 :a story that is not true

2 :a story in which animals speak and act like people and which is usually meant to teach a lesson

Learn More about fable

See words that rhyme with fable Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fable Spanish Central: Translation of fable Nglish: Translation of fable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fable for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fable

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

fable

Definition of fable

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

Examples of fable in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fable from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fable

fable Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

fable

Definition of fable

fabler

Origin and Etymology of fable

FABLE Defined for English Language Learners

fable

Definition of fable for English Language Learners

FABLE Defined for Kids

fable

Definition of fable for Students

Learn More about fable

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066