Word
fantastical
Phoneticsfan·tas·ti·cal
UK/fɑːntˈæstɪkəl/
Definition
adj. describing something that is very strange, imaginative, or not real. You use this to talk about stories with magic or things that are hard to believe.
adj. characterised by the use of imagination to create things that are not real or are impossible. Often used to describe literature, art, or situations that involve fantasy elements.
Examples
“The children built a fantastical castle out of cardboard boxes.”
“The author's fantastical descriptions of the underwater city made the story feel like a dream.”
“While the plot is fantastical, the underlying themes of social justice and environmental degradation are deeply rooted in our current reality.”
Examples
simple
“The children built a fantastical castle out of cardboard boxes.”
contextual
“The author's fantastical descriptions of the underwater city made the story feel like a dream.”
complex
“While the plot is fantastical, the underlying themes of social justice and environmental degradation are deeply rooted in our current reality.”
Real-World Examples
“Other claims by Arday seem to be fantastical, including the fact that he apparently ran 30 marathons in 35 days.” “The University of Cambridge professor, now resigned , was accused of plagiarism, and appears to have made up an awful lot of fantastical stories about his life.” Etymology
From fantastic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fantastical