Fictional-Fictitious | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Fictional vs. Fictitious

Fictional

/ˈfɪkʃənəl/
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:

etymology
  • 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.
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