fictional

adjective

fic·tion·al ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl

: of, relating to, characterized by, or occurring in fiction : invented by the imagination

a fictional story/character

fictional dialogue

Over the past 15 years, Noble has created a fantastical, awe-inspiring fictional city called Nobson Newtown, which he renders in painstakingly detailed pencil drawings …—

Steve Rose

There are several surprises about stories. The first is that we spend a great deal of time in fictional worlds, whether in daydreams, novels, confabulations or life narratives. When all is tallied up, the decades we spend in the realm of fantasy outstrip the time we spend in the real world.—

David Eagleman

Besides scholarly writings and cultural criticism, he's turned out a fictional mystery series starring Edgar Allan Poe …—

Edward Lewine

fictionally

ˈfik-sh(ə-)nəl-ē

adverb

… a film that documents the history of space science and fictionally portrays a journey to the moon … —

Lynn Baker et al.

Examples of fictional in a Sentence

the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional

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.

Like their fictional counterparts, Taylor-Joy and Delevingne often hit the town together, including a 2023 girls’ night out that included Taylor Swift, Zoë Kravitz, and Golden Globe double nominee Selena Gomez. —

EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025 Winslet was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a drama for her role as a photojournalist in Lee and best performance by a female actor in a limited anthology series for television as a fictional dictator in The Regime. —

Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025 But Paco Ignacio Taibo II is best known for his fictional alter ego: Héctor Belascoarán Shayne, a one-of-a-kind private eye confronting injustice, corruption and crime in the noir depths of 1970s Mexico City. —

Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025 Romantic parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional bonds people form with media figures—such as celebrities or even fictional characters. —

Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fictional