# fable

/ˈfeɪbəɫ/ (US) · /fˈeɪbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a short story that teaches a lesson about life. The characters are often animals that talk and act like people.

For teachers: a brief fictional narrative, typically featuring anthropomorphised animals or inanimate objects, that illustrates a moral lesson. Often associated with oral traditions and didactic literature.

## Examples

- The tortoise and the hare is a famous fable about patience.
- In the fable of the ant and the grasshopper, the ant works hard while the grasshopper plays all summer.
- Ancient writers used the fable as a tool for social commentary, allowing them to critique powerful figures through the safety of animal metaphors.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the preposition 'of' when naming the specific story.

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