n.
- prose literature, especially novels, describing imaginary events and people.
- a thing that is invented or untrue.
▸a false belief or statement, accepted as true because it is expedient to do so.
Derivative
- fictional adj.
- fictionality n.
- fictionalization
or fictionalisation n. - fictionalize
or fictionalise v. - fictionally adv.
- fictionist n.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. fictio(n-), from fingere ‘form, contrive’; cf. feign and figment.