Fiction refers to books and stories about imaginary people and events, rather than books about real people or events.
Immigrant tales have always been popular themes in fiction.
Diana is a writer of historical fiction.
Synonyms: tale, story, novel, legend More Synonyms of fiction
2. See also science fiction
3. uncountable noun
A statement or account that is fiction is not true.
The truth or fiction of this story has never been truly determined.
4. countable noun
If something is a fiction, it is not true, although people sometimes pretend that it is true.
Is the idea of 'true love' a fiction in itself?
More Synonyms of fiction
fiction in British English
(ˈfɪkʃən)
noun
1.
literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels or short stories
2.
an invented story or explanation; lie
3.
the act of inventing a story or explanation
4. law
something assumed to be true for the sake of convenience, though probably false
Derived forms
fictional (ˈfictional)
adjective
fictionally (ˈfictionally)
adverb
fictioneer (ˌfictionˈeer) or fictionist (ˈfictionist)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin fictiō a fashioning, hence something imaginary, from fingere to shape
fiction in American English
(ˈfɪkʃən)
noun
1.
a making up of imaginary happenings; feigning
2.
anything made up or imagined, as a statement, story, etc.
3.
a.
literary narratives, collectively, which portray imaginary characters or events, specif. novels and short stories
b.
a narrative of this kind
4.
something accepted as fact for the sake of convenience, although not necessarily true
Derived forms
fictional (ˈfictional)
adjective
fictionally (ˈfictionally)
adverb
fictioneer (ˌfictionˈeer)
noun
fictionist (ˈfictionist)
noun
Word origin
ME ficcioun < OFr fiction < L fictio, a making, counterfeiting < pp. of fingere, to form, mold: see dough
COBUILD Collocations
fiction
genre fiction
Examples of 'fiction' in a sentence
fiction
Any work of fiction would struggle to satisfy those expectations.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But he is one of the best detectives in contemporary fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Science fiction isn't always so hot on the science part.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
By 1850 she had eight bestsellers and she is sometimes credited as one of the first writers of detective fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The previous detectives in fiction were more cavalier characters.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Yet what is the distinction between autobiography and fiction these days?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The most interesting thing about this work of science fiction is the story of its creator.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was his first work of fiction.
The Sun (2016)
This year they have overhauled their awards to reflect the modern appetite for romantic fiction.
The Sun (2012)
There is no need for nuclear weapons or the inventions of science fiction writers.
Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
Self moaned last year that difficult literary fiction was a dying art form.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Who says historical fiction lacks true grit?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If all popular fiction were this good nobody would bother reading literature.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some of the most popular characters in detective fiction have been around for a longtime.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It should be the work of fiction.
The Sun (2016)
He certainly enjoyed light romantic fiction and read fanciful books.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The vital skill for a writer of fiction is to make lies seem true.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One judge said that it was the first time literary fiction had successfully dealt with the internet.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When does historical fiction become historical fantasy?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His nonfiction was also in demand with editors and was at least as popular as his fiction.
Christianity Today (2000)
Menace has always stalked his fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But we should perhaps be wary of looking back with envy on an age when short fiction was a certain money spinner.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
What is more, it is fact rather than fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The writing too is more evolved than you would have found in Victorian pulp fiction.
The Sun (2013)
Some feminists turned towards poetry, fiction and autobiography.
Rowbotham, Sheila The Past is Before Us - feminism in action since the 1960s (1989)
After all, it is a collection of fiction rather than an academic study.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
There is also a good US awards system for short fiction and the critical acclaim has helped.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
'Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fictionLord ByronDon Juan
Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction is truerFrederic RaphaelContemporary Novelists
Literature is a luxury. Fiction is a necessityG.K. ChestertonThe Defendant
In other languages
fiction
British English: fiction /ˈfɪkʃən/ NOUN
Fiction is stories about imaginary people and events.
American English: fiction
Arabic: قِصَّةٌ خَيَالِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: ficção
Chinese: 小说
Croatian: fikcija
Czech: beletrie
Danish: fiktion
Dutch: fictie
European Spanish: ficción
Finnish: kaunokirjallisuus
French: fiction
German: Belletristik
Greek: πεζογραφία
Italian: fiction
Japanese: フィクション
Korean: 소설
Norwegian: fiksjon
Polish: fikcja
European Portuguese: ficção
Romanian: ficțiune
Russian: художественная литература
Latin American Spanish: ficción
Swedish: skönlitteratur
Thai: นวนิยาย
Turkish: kurgu
Ukrainian: белетристика
Vietnamese: tiểu thuyết
All related terms of 'fiction'
fan fiction
fiction written by a fan of, and involving characters featured in, a particular film, television series , etc
non-fiction
Non-fiction is writing that gives information or describes real events, rather than telling a story .
flash fiction
a genre of fiction in which stories are characterized by extreme brevity
genre fiction
Fiction refers to books and stories about imaginary people and events, rather than books about real people or events.
legal fiction
an acceptance of something as true , for the sake of convenience ; legal pretence
pulp fiction
fiction dealing with lurid or sensational subjects, often printed on rough , low-quality paper manufactured from wood pulp
space fiction
a book , film, TV series , etc, set in outer space
fiction writer
A writer is a person who writes books, stories , or articles as a job .
reality fiction
a satirical parody of a reality TV show
science fiction
Science fiction consists of stories in books, magazines , and films about events that take place in the future or in other parts of the universe .
romantic fiction
a genre of fiction focused on romantic love
interactive fiction
an adventure or mystery story, usually presented as a video game or book, in which the player or reader is given choices as to how the storyline is to develop or the mystery is to be solved
speculative fiction
a broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural , fantastical , or futuristic elements
Chinese translation of 'fiction'
fiction
(ˈfɪkʃən)
n
(u) (= novels, stories) 小说(說) (xiǎoshuō)
(u) (= invention) 虚(虛)构(構)的事 (xūgòu de shì)
(c) (= lie) 杜撰 (dùzhuàn)
All related terms of 'fiction'
non-fiction
非小说(說)类(類)文学(學) fēixiǎoshuōlèi wénxué
pulp fiction
低俗小说(說) dīsú xiǎoshuō
science fiction
科幻小说(說) kēhuàn xiǎoshuō
the queen of crime fiction
侦(偵)探小说(說)之冠 zhēntàn xiǎoshuō zhī guàn
sci-fi
science fiction 科幻小说(說) kēhuàn xiǎoshuō
to distinguish between truth and fiction
分清事实(實)和虚(虛)构(構) fēnqīng shìshí hé xūgòu
1 (noun)
Definition
literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels
She is a writer of historical fiction.
Synonyms
tale
a collection of poems and folk tales
story
a popular love story with a happy ending
novel
He had all but finished writing a first novel.
legend
the legends of ancient Greece
myth
a famous Greek myth
romance
Her taste in fiction was for historical romances.
fable
Each tale has the timeless quality of fable.
storytelling
narration
creative writing
work of imagination
2 (noun)
a story of truth or fiction
Synonyms
imagination
He has a logical mind and a little imagination.
fancy (old-fashioned, literary)
fantasy
a world of imagination and fantasy
creativity
American art reached a peak of creativity in the 50's and 60's.
3 (noun)
Definition
an invented story or explanation
Total recycling is a fiction.
Synonyms
lie
I've had enough of your lies.
fancy
fantasy
invention
The story was undoubtedly pure invention.
improvisation
fabrication
She described the interview with her as a `complete fabrication'.
concoction
falsehood
He accused them of knowingly spreading falsehoods about him.
untruth
The Authority accused estate agents of using blatant untruths.
porky (British, slang)
pork pie (British, slang)
urban myth
tall story
urban legend
cock and bull story (informal)
figment of the imagination
Quotations
'Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction [Lord Byron – Don Juan]Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction is truer [Frederic Raphael – Contemporary Novelists]Literature is a luxury. Fiction is a necessity [G.K. Chesterton – The Defendant]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of creativity
American art reached a peak of creativity in the 50's and 60's.
Synonyms
imagination,
talent,
inspiration,
productivity,
fertility,
ingenuity,
originality,
inventiveness,
cleverness,
fecundity,
imaginativeness
in the sense of fable
Definition
a story about mythical characters or events
Each tale has the timeless quality of fable.
Synonyms
legend,
myth,
parable,
allegory,
story,
tale,
apologue
in the sense of fabrication
She described the interview with her as a `complete fabrication'.