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.

Synonyms of fictional

• fictitious
• imaginary
• mythical
• imagined
• fantasied

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

Much like James Bond, the brand's most famous fictional custodian, an Aston Martin is defined by its ability to perform exceptionally while looking entirely unflustered. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026

These days, Petur Gudmann Gudmannsson, Iceland’s only full-time forensic pathologist, contends with as many fictional murders as real ones. — HubSpot, 1 Oct. 2026

The contemporary campus has generated so much discourse about itself that fictional students arrive pre-pilloried. — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Neon plans a 2027 theatrical release under the Creative Commons license for the open-source horror film based on a fictional secretive organization that keeps supernatural items and other harmful entities away from the public. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fictional

• frictional
• jurisdictional