fictitious
Americanadjective
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not genuine or authentic; assumed; false
to give a fictitious address
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of, related to, or characteristic of fiction; created by the imagination
Usage
What’s the difference between fictitious, fictional, and fictive? Fictitious most commonly means false or made up, as in I signed in with a fictitious name to hide my identity. Fictional means invented as part of a work of fiction, as in Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective or This account is entirely fictional—it’s not based on a true story. Fictive is a much less commonly used word that means imaginary or relating to or capable of creating fiction, as in a fictive imagination. Confusingly, their meanings can overlap—fictitious can sometimes mean the same thing as fictional, and fictive can sometimes mean the same thing as fictitious. It can be tough to remember which word is the right one to use since all three are adjectives that are used in contexts involving things that are imagined or made up. Still, they are usually used in pretty specific ways. Fictitious is most commonly used in the context of things that are made up to conceal something or deceive someone in real life, whereas fictional is almost always applied to stories and characters that are part of creative works, like books and movies. Fictitious can usually be replaced with the word fake—this is not the case for fictional. Here’s an example of fictitious, fictional, and fictive used correctly in the same sentence. Example: Instead of using fictitious names that no one would notice, his aliases were the names of fictional characters, like Clark Kent and Peter Parker—you would think a con artist would have a more fictive imagination. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between fictitious, fictional, and fictive.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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half-fictitiousadjective
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unfictitiouslyadverb
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half-fictitiouslyadverb
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quasi-fictitiouslyadverb
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quasi-fictitiousadjective
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unfictitiousadjective
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fictitiousnessnoun
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semifictitiousadjective
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nonfictitiousnessnoun
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nonfictitiouslyadverb
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fictitiouslyadverb
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half-fictitiousnessnoun
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nonfictitiousadjective
Etymology
Origin of fictitious
1605–15; from Latin fictīcius “artificial,” equivalent to fict(us) “shaped, feigned” ( see fiction) + -īcius -itious
Compare meaning
How does fictitious compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Fictitious means made up, or imaginary. No matter how real Scarlett O'Hara might seem in "Gone With the Wind," she's a fictitious character invented by author Margaret Mitchell. When you look at the word fictitious, you'll probably notice that it bears a striking resemblance to fiction — which is an imaginary story about people and events that are made up for the purpose of entertaining readers. Fictitious can also be used to mean "trick or deceive." A thief assumes a fictitious name to hide his real identity and evade capture.
Vocabulary lists containing fictitious
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
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The Pigman
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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.
Fictitious patient reviews are just one tactic; vaccine opponents have also deluged Facebook and Instagram accounts of doctors and practices, medical professionals said.
From The Verge • May 14, 2019
Fictitious characters all, their behaviors are less than smart.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 26, 2019
Fictitious memories do not only afflict those who have been traumatized; people with stable backgrounds also struggle to distinguish between experiences that they had themselves and those they absorbed through someone else’s stories.
From The New Yorker • Jun. 12, 2017
Fictitious forces, such as the Coriolis force, are needed to explain motion in such frames.
From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015
Fictitious property in slaves was not only righteously destroyed, but very much of the work which had depended upon the slave labor was also destroyed or greatly impaired, especially the levee system.
From Life on the Mississippi, Part 12. by Twain, Mark
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.
