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

The film, which stars Dern, Justin Theroux, and Jeremy Irons, is another meditation on Hollywood, blurring the lines between layers of fiction and dizzyingly captured with a digital camcorder. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025

This read will especially appeal to those who have an affinity for historical fiction authors like Vanessa Riley (Island Queen, Queen of Exiles), Piper Hughley (By Her Own Design, American Daughters), and Victoria Christopher Murray (The First Ladies, The Personal Librarian). —Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025

While drawn from works of fiction, these laws have shaped discussions of robot ethics for decades. —IEEE Spectrum, 14 Jan. 2025

Even Zane Grey, mass producer of Western fictions, knew this truth. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025

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