fictitious
Not at all real
Fictitious describes something invented or imaginary rather than real.
A fictitious character exists only in a story; a fictitious name is an alias.
The word often implies deliberate fabrication: The account was opened under a fictitious identity.
Unlike fictional, which is neutral, fictitious can suggest deception or falseness.
Existing only in thought
- fabricatedInvented, not real
- made-upFabricated, not factual
- inventedCreated something new
- fakeNot the real thing
unreal · concocted · contrived · fantasy · make-believe · pretend · feigned · simulated
Involving intentional dishonesty
- falseNot matching reality
- bogusCounterfeit or fraudulent
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- shamFraudulent imitation
spurious · forged · misleading · deceitful · dishonest · duplicitous · falsified · trumped-up
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- mythologicalOf traditional sacred narratives
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- fabledCelebrated in folklore
- storiedCelebrated in legend
fantastical · chimera · phoenix · dragon · unicorn · Atlantis · Shangri-La · Camelot
New and unusual
- storyAccount of events
- narrativeAccount of events
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- plotStoryline or land parcel
fable · tale · myth · legend · allegory · parable · protagonist · storyline
Taken as true
- aliasAdopted false name
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- nom-de-plumeAssumed authorial identity
- frontForward-facing side
cover · DBA · pen-name · stage-name · misrepresentation
imaginary
Existing only in thought
- fabricatedInvented, not real
- made-upFabricated, not factual
- inventedCreated something new
fake · unreal · concocted · contrived · fantasy · make-believe · pretend · feigned · simulated · artificial
fraudulent
Involving intentional dishonesty
sham · spurious · forged · misleading · deceitful · dishonest · duplicitous · falsified · trumped-up · misrepresented
legendary
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- mythologicalOf traditional sacred narratives
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- fabledCelebrated in folklore
storied · fantastical · chimera · phoenix · dragon · unicorn · Atlantis · Shangri-La · Camelot · Avalon
novel
New and unusual
- storyAccount of events
- narrativeAccount of events
- charactersPersons in a narrative
plot · fable · tale · myth · legend · allegory · parable · protagonist · storyline · narrator
assumed
Taken as true
- aliasAdopted false name
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- nom-de-plumeAssumed authorial identity
front · cover · DBA · pen-name · stage-name · misrepresentation
- unreal thingsillusion, delusion, fantasy, imaginary, fake
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
- nominalnominal, titular, figurehead, in name only, token
- fictitious nameMade-up appellation