Word of the Day

: January 12, 2007

fictitious

adjective fik-TISH-us

What It Means

1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of fiction : imaginary

2 : conventionally or hypothetically assumed or accepted b *of a name : false, assumed

3 : not genuinely felt

fictitious in Context

Although the television series is based on real criminal cases, fictitious names are used to protect the privacy of the people who were actually involved.

Did You Know?

"Fictitious" is related to the Latin word "ficticius," meaning "artificial" or "feigned." It was first used in English as an antonym for "natural." For instance, a fake diamond would be referred to as a fictitious one. This use indicates the word's deeper Latin roots. "Ficticius" is from Latin "fingere," meaning "to shape, form, or devise." Nowadays, "fictitious" is no longer used for physical things shaped by the human hand. Rather, it is typically used for imaginative creations or for feigned emotions.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.