SYNONYMS | WORD ORIGIN
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. Origin of imaginary 1350–1400; Middle English <
Latin imāginārius, equivalent to
imāgin-, (stem of
imāgō )
image +
-ārius -ary Related forms im·ag·i·nar·i·ly , adverb im·ag·i·nar·i·ness , noun non·im·ag·i·nar·i·ly , adverb non·im·ag·i·nar·i·ly·ness , noun non·im·ag·i·nar·i·ness , noun non·im·ag·i·nar·y , adjective pre·im·ag·i·nar·y , adjective un·im·ag·i·nar·y , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for imaginarily 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
Show More
Derived Forms imaginarily , adverb imaginariness , 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
Word Origin and History for imaginarily adj. "not real," late 14c., ymaginaire , from imagine + -ary ; or else from Late Latin imaginarius "seeming, fancied," from imaginari . Imaginary friend (one who does not exist) attested by 1789.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper