figment
Americannoun
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a mere product of mental invention; a fantastic notion.
The noises in the attic were just a figment of his imagination.
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a feigned, invented, or imagined story, theory, etc..
biographical and historical figments.
noun
Related Words
See fiction.
Etymology
Origin of figment
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin figmentum “something made or feigned,” equivalent to fig- (base of fingere “to mold, feign”) + -mentum -ment; fiction ( def. )
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.
The revs are but an airy figment in your febrile mind.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
As Kunimoto says, private-fund valuations are often “a figment of imagination.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
As a figment of Charles’ imagination, Sazz is always in a suit and a porkpie hat.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2025
In 1993's True Romance, Kilmer played a version of Elvis Presley who is a figment of Christian Slater's imagination.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2025
This might suggest that the so-called imaginary time is really the real time, and that what we call real time is just a figment of our imaginations.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
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.
