fictional universe

Made-up story realm

A fictional universe is the complete imagined setting where a story or related stories take place—including its geography, history, characters, and rules.

When a fictional universe grows large enough, it may span multiple works: the Star Wars universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Fans often track continuity across these works, debating what counts as canon within the universe.

Related

novels · magic systems · magic system · morality · mythology · parallel dimension · languages · identity · destiny · cosmology · cultures · films · factions · ecosystems · love · archetypes · origin story · villains

Categories
Opposites
ontological status

fictional universereality

What actually exists

objective reality · physical reality · existence · nonfiction · lived experience

epistemological grounding

fictional universehistorical record

Preserved account of past

nonfiction · true story

Family

fiction, fictional, fictionalize, fictionalized, fictionalizing, fictionalization, fictive, fictitious, fictitiously

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G