fictional
adjective
fic·tion·al
ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl 
: of, relating to, characterized by, or occurring in fiction : invented by the imagination
a fictional story/character
fictional dialogue
Over the past 15 years, Noble has created a fantastical, awe-inspiring fictional city called Nobson Newtown, which he renders in painstakingly detailed pencil drawings …—
Steve Rose
Steve RoseThere are several surprises about stories. The first is that we spend a great deal of time in fictional worlds, whether in daydreams, novels, confabulations or life narratives. When all is tallied up, the decades we spend in the realm of fantasy outstrip the time we spend in the real world.—David Eagleman
David EaglemanBesides scholarly writings and cultural criticism, he's turned out a fictional mystery series starring Edgar Allan Poe …—Edward Lewine
Edward Lewine
fictionally
adverb
… a film that documents the history of space science and fictionally portrays a journey to the moon …
—Lynn Baker et al.
Lynn Baker et al.
Synonyms
Examples of fictional in a Sentence
the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional
Recent Examples on the Web
Ukraine is a fictional state...the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
—Maya Mehrara, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The book’s epilogue imagines a world in which similar missions don’t go so well; a fictional NASA spokesperson describes the mysterious loss of a crewed space capsule.
—Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
The event recreates the ambiance of La Trompette Bleue (The Blue Trumpet), the fictional Paris club where Emily’s BFF, Mindy, performs.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
For television lovers, all six seasons of the beloved sitcom A Different World arrive on February 7, bringing us back to the fictional campus of Hillman College.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fictional 
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Maya Mehrara, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The book’s epilogue imagines a world in which similar missions don’t go so well; a fictional NASA spokesperson describes the mysterious loss of a crewed space capsule.
—Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
The event recreates the ambiance of La Trompette Bleue (The Blue Trumpet), the fictional Paris club where Emily’s BFF, Mindy, performs.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
For television lovers, all six seasons of the beloved sitcom A Different World arrive on February 7, bringing us back to the fictional campus of Hillman College.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fictional
Dictionary Entries Near fictional
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fictional. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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