fib

American  

[fib] / fɪb /

noun

1. a small or trivial lie; minor falsehood.

---

verb (used without object)

fibbed, fibbing

1. to tell a fib.

fib British  

/ fɪb /

noun

1. a trivial and harmless lie

---

verb

1. (intr) to tell such a lie

Related Words

See falsehood.

Other Word Forms

• fibber noun
• fibster noun
• unfibbing adjective

Etymology

Origin of fib

1560–70; short for fibble-fable nonsense, gradational compound based on fable

Example Sentences

"Perhaps the starkest," Dr Rogers said, were her attempts to explain the cancer fib.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

If someone were to ask me how I kept my sanity this past year, I would first probably fib and come up with something literary.

From Slate • Dec. 28, 2024

Rae’s pretext for the connection: Piano music helps her work, and Yoori was recommended by someone who overheard her practicing at the music school, a fib that the sweet but self-effacing Yoori hardly believes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

He wasn’t aware at the time, but the daughter had gone next door and called 911 to say someone had been stabbed — a fib that she later retracted, White said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2023

She might fib a little, but she never broke her promises.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi