fictionalize

American  

[fik-shuh-nl-ahyz] / ˈfɪk ʃə nlˌaɪz /

especially British, fictionalise

verb (used with object)

fictionalized, fictionalizing

1. to make into fiction; give a somewhat imaginative or fictional version of.

   to fictionalize a biography.

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fictionalize British  

/ ˈfɪkʃənəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to make into fiction or give a fictional aspect to

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Other Word Forms

• fictionalization
  noun
• fictionalizer
  noun
• semifictionalized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of fictionalize

First recorded in 1920–25; fictional ( def. ) + -ize

Explanation

To fictionalize is to take a true story and change the details so it's not literally accurate. When you write your first novel, you might simply fictionalize the family tales your grandparents have told you. When you fictionalize something, you transform a factual story into fiction. A lot of writers use this technique to turn their own experiences and real people they know into interesting stories. If you're writing a story for school about the time your friend forged a note from his mom to excuse his absence, you might decide to fictionalize him so he doesn't get in trouble. Fictionalize comes from a Latin root, fingere, "to shape or form."

Example Sentences

“Hacks” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” successfully fictionalize such frustrations, as the tribute acknowledges by opening with “Hacks” star Jean Smart’s pre-recorded reflections on the late comedian’s influence.

From Salon • May 14, 2025

Instead of directly recounting the facts in Bissonnette’s book, Gore and Kulash elected to fictionalize certain aspects.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2023

“I was very excited to pick it apart and figure out what we wanted to fictionalize to push this story forward,” he said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 4, 2022

I have disagreed with many of the attempts to question her right to fictionalize Mexico’s predicament simply because she long identified as white.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2020

It was a means by which, if not to erase or delete memory, to splice it, to fictionalize it, and to some degree begin again; and yet he judged consciousness to be even less real.

From An Apostate: Nawin of Thais by Sills, Steven (Steven David Justin)

Related Words

• fabricate