fictional

adjective

fic·​tion·​al ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce fictional (audio)
Synonyms of fictionalnext
: 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.
Reid, for all intents and purposes, casts the fictional league’s commissioner as the rightful big bad villain of Shane and Ilya’s story. Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 The extended edition includes 40 minutes of additional footage, much of it extended versions of scenes that were in the theatrical cut, giving more screen time to Lester Bangs (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and fictional band Stillwater's on-stage performances. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026 The series, which aired from 2000 to 2007, centered around fast-talking mom Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her bookish teen daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) in their small, fictional Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Once upon a time, San Diego’s thirsty young male population was regaled with tales of eccentric King Snedley, a dedicated (and completely fictional) brewmaster from the realm of Hopland. Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fictional. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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