ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fetched

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfɛtʃt// UK //fˈɛtʃt// fetched

adj. describing an idea or story that is very hard to believe. You use this when something seems unlikely or forced rather than natural.

adj. Describes an explanation, story, or comparison that is improbable or lacks credibility. Often used with 'far' to indicate a high degree of implausibility.


SIMPLE

The plot of the movie is a bit far-fetched.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness gave a far-fetched account of the accident that didn't match the security footage.

COMPLEX

While the technology exists in theory, the idea of colonizing Mars within the next decade remains far-fetched to most aerospace engineers.

Synonyms
Usage

Almost exclusively used in the compound form 'far-fetched'. It typically follows a linking verb like 'seem', 'sound', or 'be'.

Pitfall

a fetched storya far-fetched storyThe word 'fetched' is rarely used alone to mean implausible; the prefix 'far-' is required for this specific meaning.

© 2026 English Reference