# imagined

/ˌɪˈmædʒənd/ (US) · /ɪmˈædʒɪnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/imagined
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not real

adjective · CEFR B1

existing only in the mind; not real or physical.

For teachers: existing only in the imagination; not based on reality or physical existence.

- The child spent the afternoon playing with an imagined friend in the garden.
- The author populated the novel with imagined landscapes that felt more vivid than the grey city outside his window.

## Examples

- The child has an imagined friend named Leo.
- The author spent years building an imagined world full of strange creatures and magic.
- The protagonist's anxiety was fueled by imagined slights from his colleagues, leading to a breakdown in communication that had very real professional consequences.

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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.