imaginary

[ ih-maj-uh-ner-ee ]

/ ɪˈmædʒ əˌnɛr i /

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See synonyms for imaginary on Thesaurus.com

adjective

existing only in the imagination or fancy; not real; fancied: an imaginary illness; the imaginary animals in the stories of Dr. Seuss.

noun, plural im·ag·i·nar·ies.

Mathematics. imaginary number.

OTHER WORDS FOR imaginary

1 fanciful, visionary, shadowy, chimerical, baseless, illusory.

See synonyms for imaginary on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR imaginary

1 real.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of imaginary

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin imāginārius, equivalent to imāgin-, (stem of imāgō) image + -ārius-ary

OTHER WORDS FROM imaginary

im·ag·i·nar·i·ly, adverbim·ag·i·nar·i·ness, nounnon·im·ag·i·nar·i·ly, adverbnon·im·ag·i·nar·i·ly·ness, noun

non·im·ag·i·nar·i·ness, nounnon·im·ag·i·nar·y, adjectivepre·im·ag·i·nar·y, adjectiveun·im·ag·i·nar·y, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imaginary

imaginary , imaginative

How to use imaginary in a sentence

The duo started Postcards From Timbuktu in 2016 with a mission to help unemployed tour guides gain an income by sending cards from a city that’s become shorthand for a far-flung, if not imaginary, place.
Not getting any travel postcards? A project in Mali delivers delight — and a lifeline.|Bailey Berg|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
Despite my near-constant financial struggles, I’m still in a better place than the people of Pine Ridge, able to move around the country, crossing imaginary walls to visit the land in which they’re entrenched.
A South Dakota Story: Andrew Jackson, Indian Killer|Eugene Robinson|November 26, 2020|Ozy
As the number of new covid-19 cases continues to grow, and social conditions shift to reflect new precautions and responses, it’s likely that parents will continue to see the coronavirus make an appearance in their children’s imaginary games.
Covid has invaded our kids’ pretend play. Experts say it’s a good thing.|Julia Pelly|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Not all parents who engage in imaginary play with their children are getting diagnosed with covid-19, or brainstorming outside-the-box vaccine ideas.
Covid has invaded our kids’ pretend play. Experts say it’s a good thing.|Julia Pelly|November 23, 2020|Washington Post

If a baseball travels through this imaginary box on its way from the pitcher to the catcher, or if the batter swings and misses, the umpire calls a strike.
A robot referee can really keep its ‘eye’ on the ball|Kathryn Hulick|August 20, 2020|Science News For Students
Everyone has fallen in love with someone imaginarily in their head.
Caitlin Moran on Slut Walks, Feminism, and Being the British Tina Fey|Jesse Ellison|July 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The virgin, with her God-begotten child, was pictured imaginarily in the heavens from time immemorial.
The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors|Kersey Graves

British Dictionary definitions for imaginary

imaginary

/ (ɪˈmædʒɪnərɪ, -dʒɪnrɪ) /

adjective

existing in the imagination; unreal; illusory

maths involving or containing imaginary numbers. The imaginary part of a complex number, z, is usually written Im z

Derived forms of imaginary

imaginarily, adverbimaginariness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

imaginary

OTHER WORDS FOR imaginary

OPPOSITES FOR imaginary

Origin of imaginary

OTHER WORDS FROM imaginary

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imaginary

Words related to imaginary

How to use imaginary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imaginary

Derived forms of imaginary