Not real, imaginary; invented for a book, story, or movie
Examples:
The film's plot is purely fictional, providing an escapist thrill.She enjoys writing about fictional kingdoms with magical creatures.In the novel, fictional technology transforms the world in unexpected ways.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Fictitious
/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
Made up or imaginary; not real or true
Examples:
The newspaper article included a fictitious account of events.To keep her identity secret, she used a fictitious name.His argument was based on fictitious data and false premises.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Fictional often relates to imaginative works like books and movies, which means it is closer to the realm of entertainment.
Fictitious often implies that something is falsely created or deceptive, possibly with an intention to mislead.
Think of fictional as associated with entertainment, like stories or novels.
You might encounter fictitious in contexts where someone is talking about a fake or bogus claim or document.
Remember: A fictional character is someone you enjoy in a story, while a fictitious character might suggest deceit or fabrication in a real-world context.