fiction

[ fik-shuhn ]

noun

1. the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.
2. works of this class, as novels or short stories:

   detective fiction.

3. something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story:

   We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.

   Synonyms: fantasy, fable

   Antonyms: fact

4. the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
5. an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation.
6. Law. an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law.

fiction

/ ˈfɪkʃən /

noun

1. literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels or short stories
2. an invented story or explanation; lie
3. the act of inventing a story or explanation
4. law something assumed to be true for the sake of convenience, though probably false

fiction

1. Literature that is a work of the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. Some examples of modern works of fiction are The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald , and Lolita , by Vladimir Nabokov .

Derived Forms

• ˈfictionally, adverb
• ˌfictionˈeer, noun
• ˈfictional, adjective

Other Words From

• fiction·al adjective
• fiction·al·ly adverb
• pro·fiction adjective
• semi·fiction noun
• semi·fiction·al adjective
• semi·fiction·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ficcio(u)n, from French, from Latin fictiōn- (stem of fictiō ) “a shaping,” hence “a feigning, fiction,” equivalent to fict(us) “molded” (past participle of fingere ) + -iōn- -ion; figment ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiction¹

C14: from Latin fictiō a fashioning, hence something imaginary, from fingere to shape

Synonym Study

Fiction, fabrication, figment suggest a story that is without basis in reality. Fiction suggests a story invented and fashioned either to entertain or to deceive: clever fiction; pure fiction. Fabrication applies particularly to a false but carefully invented statement or series of statements, in which some truth is sometimes interwoven, the whole usually intended to deceive: fabrications to lure speculators. Figment applies to a tale, idea, or statement often made up to explain, justify, or glorify oneself: His rich uncle was a figment of his imagination.

Example Sentences

This is why GPT-3 shines when writing creative fiction, where factual accuracy is less of a concern.

From Nautilus

Your write that language, like fiction, creates meaning where none existed before.

From Nautilus

They’re probably all wrong to start with, and then we try and link those fictions with other people’s fictions.

From Nautilus

Indeed, a lot of serious science fiction work aims to scare us away from less-than-palatable trajectories we might be considering, or have already embarked on.

From Singularity Hub 

Mulan’s entry into masculine spaces is celebrated, for example, because women embracing traits strongly associated with masculinity is celebrated in fiction.

From Vox

The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.

From The Daily Beast

There was a lot of prison fiction from movies and books to mine.

From The Daily Beast

While politics tend to migrate toward the poles, humanity—and fiction, at its best—huddles in between.

From The Daily Beast

The ghost writer in question is assumed to be one Siobhan Curham—an established author of both YA and adult fiction.

From The Daily Beast

They hire other people to write their books for them, whether memoir or fiction.

From The Daily Beast

A true history of the Merrill Horse, and the adventures of its different members, would read like the most exciting fiction.

From Project Gutenberg

Certainly The Cheats establishes her in my mind as our first writer of historical fiction.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most humorous tales of modern fiction, combined with a very tender and appealing love story.

From Project Gutenberg

Ere joining the "Friends," she had been induced to give up, not only writing fiction, but reading it also.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a history full of instruction, and ever reminds us that truth is stranger than fiction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• best seller
• book
• drama
• fable
• fantasy
• imagination
• legend
• myth
• narrative
• novel
• tale
• yarn