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

The imaginary elements of the story — the witches, and the university — stem from growing up with my father, and reading novels by Julio Verne and Emilio Salgari. —Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025

New York is a realm of fantasy and myth, obsession and resentment, fear and bewilderment for many who’ve never set foot in it; and many who live here also purvey and perpetuate some version of the imaginary city. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 May 2025

Never let your imaginary AI friend inadvertently rat you out when it’s only meant to juice your social-media engagement stats, friends! —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 2 May 2025

Occasionally these excursions were imaginary, conjuring a far-away place from Paris, but the spirit of adventure is constant. —Steff Yotka, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025

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
• 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