fiction

[ fik-shuhn ]
/ ˈfɪk ʃən /

noun

the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.
works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction.
something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.
the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation.
Law. an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law.

Origin of fiction

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fictiōn- (stem of fictiō) a shaping, hence a feigning, fiction, equivalent to fict(us) molded (past participle of fingere) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR fiction

3 fable, fantasy. Fiction, fabrication, figment suggest a story that is without basis in reality. Fiction suggests a story invented and fashioned either to entertain or to deceive: clever fiction; pure fiction. Fabrication applies particularly to a false but carefully invented statement or series of statements, in which some truth is sometimes interwoven, the whole usually intended to deceive: fabrications to lure speculators. Figment applies to a tale, idea, or statement often made up to explain, justify, or glorify oneself: His rich uncle was a figment of his imagination.

OTHER WORDS FROM fiction

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fiction

facetious factious factitious fictional fictitious factitious fictional fictitious fictive

Example sentences from the Web for fiction

British Dictionary definitions for fiction

fiction
/ (ˈfɪkʃən) /

noun

literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels or short stories
an invented story or explanation; lie
the act of inventing a story or explanation
law something assumed to be true for the sake of convenience, though probably false

Derived forms of fiction

fictional, adjective fictionally, adverb fictioneer or fictionist, noun

Word Origin for fiction

C14: from Latin fictiō a fashioning, hence something imaginary, from fingere to shape

Cultural definitions for fiction

fiction

Literature that is a work of the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. Some examples of modern works of fiction are The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov.