imaginary

1 of 2

adjective

imag·​i·​nary i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

1

a

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

an imaginary friend

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

imaginarily

i-ˌma-jə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

imaginariness

i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē-nəs 

noun

imaginariness

2 of 2

noun

imag·​i·​nar·​i·​ness

-rin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being imaginary

Synonyms of imaginary

Adjective

• fictitious
• fictional
• mythical
• imagined
• fantasied
• imaginal

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of imaginary in a Sentence

Adjective

The two groups were separated by an imaginary line down the middle of the room.

an imaginary world of dragons and unicorns

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Someone needs to tell both Salley and her extraneous E to get the hell off my imaginary husband. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 June 2026

Katie Dippold shaped the show from its very beginnings by way of her passion for both horror and comedy, Hiro Murai is a quiet artist who carries a big imaginary stick. —Stephen Root, IndieWire, 3 June 2026

At some point these imaginary works pass into the realm of co-creation. —Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

Participants were also asked to evaluate the same imaginary and recalled offenses. —Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ymaginarie, borrowed from Latin imāginārius "unreal, fictitious (in law)," from imāgin-, imāgō "representation, semblance, image entry 1" + -ārius -ary entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing imaginary

• imaginary number
• imaginary part
• imaginary unit
• pure imaginary

Rhymes for imaginary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē 

: existing only in imagination : not real

unicorns are imaginary

Medical Definition

imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē 

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

imaginary fears

an imaginary illness