adjective
fictitious
fik-TISH-us/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
Invented rather than real.
The storybook shows a fictitious dragon with feathered wings.
Etymology
Latin ficticius described something artificial or counterfeit. The sense shifted from something manufactured rather than genuine to something existing only in imagination—the connection behind fictitious people, events, and details.
In context
he had to come up with a fictitious figure with a false self with an act
More examples
- The novel takes place in a fictitious coastal town.
- She gives the caller a fictitious name to protect her privacy.
- The scammer collects payments for fictitious services.
Forms
fictitious
fiction noun — Writing about invented people and events.
Similar words
- fictional
- Usually describes invented stories or characters, not deceptive claims.
- imaginary
- Exists only in the mind, without necessarily being deliberately invented.
- fabricated
- Emphasizes deliberate invention, often intended to deceive others.