ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fictitious

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //fɪkˈtɪʃəs// UK //fɪktˈɪʃəs// fic·ti·tious

adj. not real or true, but made up as part of a story. You use this to describe characters, names, or events that only exist in books or movies.

adj. invented or imaginary; not existing in fact. Often used to describe literary creations or false identities created for deception.


SIMPLE

The story is set in a fictitious town in the mountains.

CONTEXTUAL

To protect her privacy, the author used a fictitious name when she checked into the hotel.

COMPLEX

The legal team argued that the evidence was based on fictitious accounts provided by witnesses who were not present at the scene.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin fictīcius.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently contrasted with 'factual' or 'biographical'.

Pitfall

a fictional charactera fictitious characterWhile often interchangeable, 'fictional' usually refers to literature, whereas 'fictitious' often implies a false or deceptive invention like a fake name or address.

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