fabricate

verb

fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-bri-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
fabricated; fabricating

transitive verb

1
a
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 noun

Example Sentences

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 Nvidia doesn’t fabricate these complex GPU chips itself, a task that would require enormous investments in new factories. David Hamilton, Fortune, 1 June 2023 Khan, who faces numerous corruption charges, has denied them all, and his supporters say the charges are fabricated. Shaiq Hussain, Washington Post, 12 May 2023 The battery is fabricated from substances seen in everyday life, in places ranging from cereal to toothpaste. Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2023 The key components of these 2.65-by-3.5-millimeter VPUs are fabricated using the same methods employed for MEMS. IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2023 The good news is that a replacement menorah constructed of titanium, a smaller version of a prominent Jewish menorah sculpture in London’s Trafalgar Square, is currently being fabricated at a cost of more than $25,000. Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2023 Rumby, a laundry delivery start-up in Ohio, allegedly fabricated a story of financial success to secure funding, which its founder used to buy himself a $1.7 million home, according to a lawsuit from one of its investors. Erin Griffith, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2023 He was found guilty of third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function and abuse of a corpse on April 11. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023 So dramatic, in fact, that it was entirely fabricated. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fabricate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fabricate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near fabricate

Cite this Entry

“Fabricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fabricate. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

fabricate

verb
fab·​ri·​cate ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
fabricated; fabricating
1
2
: to make up in order to deceive
fabricated evidence to support her claim
3
fabrication
ˌfab-ri-ˈkā-shən
noun
fabricator noun

Legal Definition

fabricate

verb
fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-brə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
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 fabricateGary Taylor

More from Merriam-Webster on fabricate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!