fable

1 of 2

noun

fa·​ble ˈfā-bəl How to pronounce fable (audio)
: a fictitious narrative or statement: such as
a
: a legendary story of supernatural happenings
Minerva is in fables said, from Jove without a mother to proceedSir John Davies
b
: a narration intended to enforce a useful truth
especially : one in which animals speak and act like human beings
The theme of the fable was the folly of human vanity.
c
: falsehood, lie
The story that he won the battle single-handedly is a mere fable.

fable

2 of 2

verb

fabled; fabling ˈfā-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce fable (audio)

intransitive verb

archaic : to tell fables

transitive verb

: to talk or write about as if true
fabler noun

Examples of fable in a Sentence

Noun a fable about busy ants The story that he won the battle single-handedly is a mere fable. He combines fact and fable to make a more interesting story.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Many of our favorite stories, fables and rhymes came from the volumes of the set of Childcraft Books published in 1954 which accompany our family’s ages-old set of World Book Encyclopedias. Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 Drawing on ancient folklore, fables and myths, Chainey’s film was branded a ‘folk horror’, a promise the film could not live up to. Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
Accompanied by a talent-rich group of Brazilian and American instrumentalists that includes keyboardist Herbie Hancock — who had played alongside Shorter in the 1960s as a member of Miles Davis fabled second great quintet — Shorter and Nascimento created something remarkable. George Varga, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025 Although its moniker may sound odd, Hungry Mother State Park, fabled to be named after a mother searching for food for her child, is one of Virginia’s oldest state parks. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for fable

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin fābula "talk, gossip, account, tale, legend," from fā-, stem of for, fārī "to speak, say" + -bula, feminine derivative of -bulum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-dhlom) — more at ban entry 1

Verb

Middle English fablen, borrowed from Anglo-French fabler, fableier, going back to Latin fābulārī "to talk, converse, invent a story," verbal derivative of fābula "talk, account, fable entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of fable was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fable. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

fable

noun
fa·​ble
ˈfā-bəl
: a short fictitious story
especially : one intended to teach a lesson and in which animals speak and act like human beings

More from Merriam-Webster on fable

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