fiction

noun

fic·​tion ˈfik-shən 

1

a

: something invented by the imagination or feigned

specifically : an invented story

… I'd found out that the story of the ailing son was pure fiction.

—Andrew A. Rooney

b

: fictitious literature (such as novels or short stories)

was renowned as a writer of fiction

c

: a work of fiction

especially : novel

Her latest work is a fiction set during the Civil War.

2

a

: an assumption of a possibility as a fact irrespective of the question of its truth

a legal fiction

b

: a useful illusion or pretense

it was only a fiction of independence his mother gave him; he was almost totally under her power

—G. A. Wagner

3

: the action of feigning or of creating with the imagination

She engaged in fiction to escape painful realities.

fictionality

ˌfik-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• fable
• fabrication
• fantasy
• phantasy
• figment
• invention

Examples of fiction in a Sentence

She believes the fiction that crime rates are up.

most stories about famous outlaws of the Old West are fictions that have little or nothing to do with fact

Recent Examples on the Web

Brandon Sanderson may be best known for writing dense works of fantasy fiction, but the popular author of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive is now trying his hand at something a little different: picture books. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024

That perspective can help with gaslighting, and bring in a dose of reality to the fiction that’s being projected onto you. —Chris Westfall, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Speaking in San Sebastian on Sunday, Netflix Spain head of fiction Verónica Fernández reminded a packed industry audience that four of the 10 most watched non-English films ever on Netflix are from Spain. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 24 Sep. 2024

That’s science, not fiction, and a world away from the heady optimism of the Cold War dreamers who once envisioned a future embedded in ice. —Paul Bierman, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ficcioun "invention of the mind," borrowed from Middle French fiction, borrowed from Latin fictiōn-, fictiō "action of shaping or molding, feigning, pretense, legal fiction," from fig-, variant stem of fingere "to mold, fashion, make a likeness of, pretend to be" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at feign

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fiction

• fact from fiction
• fan fiction
• science fiction
• slash fiction

Kids Definition

fiction

noun

fic·​tion ˈfik-shən 

1

: something told or written that is not fact

2

: a made-up story

fictional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

fictionally

-shnə-lē 

-shən-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Legal Definition

fiction

noun

fic·​tion

: legal fiction

fictional adjective