imaginary
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
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existing in the imagination; unreal; illusory
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maths involving or containing imaginary numbers. The imaginary part of a complex number, z, is usually written Im z
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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imaginarinessnoun
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nonimaginarilynessnoun
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nonimaginarinessnoun
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nonimaginaryadjective
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preimaginaryadjective
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unimaginaryadjective
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imaginarilyadverb
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nonimaginarilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of imaginary
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin imāginārius, equivalent to imāgin-, (stem of imāgō ) image + -ārius -ary
Explanation
Anything imaginary is not real: it only exists in someone's head. We hate to ruin your day, but unicorns are imaginary. Our imagination allows us to think of anything we want, and things that only exist in our minds are imaginary. Many children have imaginary friends: people they talk to who aren't real. Mythological beings like dragons, Zeus, and Thor are imaginary. A fantasy about marrying a movie star is probably imaginary, because that isn't likely to happen.
Vocabulary lists containing imaginary
List 1
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Common Core Grade 6, List 4
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Common Core Grade 5, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last year, he published a book titled Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
“This first external raise is not just a milestone, but a validation of what’s been achieved in a single year,” said Logan Langberg, a partner at Imaginary Ventures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
The storied building was the launching point for numerous animated favorites over the years, including “Samurai Jack,” “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” “Adventure Time” and more.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024
“Goth” grew out of the book tour for Tolhurst’s 2016 memoir, “Cured: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys,” which resembled a concert tour more than anything.
From Salon • Oct. 28, 2023
“Oh yeah, who? Who’s your friend? Imaginary ones don’t count. Neither do the ones you draw.”
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
