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

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

ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl-ē 

adverb

… a film that documents the history of space science and fictionally portrays a journey to the moon …

—Lynn Baker et al.

Synonyms of fictional

• fictitious
• imaginary
• mythical
• imagined
• fantasied

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

Seth Rogen, production chief of the fictional Continental, is closing fictional deals for hot new fictional projects as The Studio plunges into its Season 2 at Apple TV. — Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026

It is set in Mano Majra, a fictional village on the new frontier between India and Pakistan, where Sikh and Muslim families have lived together peacefully for generations. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Joanne Miller is a fictional agent who in the film leads the manhunt for the adult Ted and uses the words in the Unabomber’s manifesto to track him down. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Belorgey launched his career in the early 2000s opening for Daft Punk, adopting a fictional persona—the red-eyed, undead electronic producer Kavinsky—who had died in a Ferrari crash before returning to make music. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fictional

• frictional
• jurisdictional