# fantastical

/fɑːntˈæstɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fantastical
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.