Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

made-up

American  
[meyd-uhp] / ˈmeɪdˈʌp /

adjective

  1. concocted; falsely fabricated or invented.

    a made-up story.

  2. being in makeup; wearing facial cosmetics.

  3. put together; finished.

made-up British  

adjective

  1. invented; fictional

    a made-up story

  2. wearing make-up

    a well made-up woman

  3. put together; assembled

  4. (of a road) surfaced with asphalt, concrete, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of made-up

First recorded in 1600–10

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.

Space Force, the made-up military branch he ratified in 2019, which he called “my baby” that is becoming “so important.”

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

That's why I've got help from these six made-up people.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Amanda, from Swansea, said it was "the best surprise ever", with made-up storylines and new characters introduced just for her.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Yet the chair is now staring down a potential criminal charge for a made-up crime.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026

“Why all the lies? The superhero nickname, the fake year, made-up stories about sightseeing trips through time?”

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

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.