imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

1

a

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

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

Synonyms

• chimerical
• chimeric
• fabulous
• fanciful
• fantasied
• fantastic
• fantastical
• fictional
• fictitious
• ideal
• imaginal
• imagined
• invented
• made-up
• make-believe
• mythical
• mythic
• notional
• phantasmal
• phantasmic
• phantom
• pretend
• unreal
• visionary

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

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

Remember the imaginary story about the Chinese trillionaires and kids getting sick from pills their parents never consented to? —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Toy Choi's Construction Workbench Play Set Teach them how to build and repair items and encourage imaginary play at this workbench. —Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024

The hope, of course, is that this team will respond the same way: an imaginary weight lifted from their shoulders that morphs into a loose, free, confident and determined group going forward. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024

Talking about this made up animal (and an assortment of other imaginary species) allowed internet users to curse, discuss topics considered taboo by the algorithm, and criticize government officials and their policies without risking censorship. —Christie Taylor, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024

The book—which is narrated by Jim, a young father enslaved by one of Huck’s guardians—seemed to fuse Everett’s interests: Jim travels the Mississippi but has an imaginary argument with Voltaire. —Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

As seen in this exclusive teaser provided to Variety, Rak’s new feature is set in an imaginary time that appears to blend present and past. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024

This equinox happens when the sun, traveling from south to north, crosses the celestial equator, an imaginary plane that extends out into space from the Earth’s equator. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024

But the models themselves are also simply delightful: tiny, precious artifacts from imaginary and mostly unrealized futures. —Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

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

Phrases Containing imaginary

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

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