fictional

Fictional is an adjective used to describe things that belong to fiction or are invented rather than existing in the real world. It is commonly applied to characters, settings, events, or ideas created by writers, filmmakers, or other artists as part of a narrative. Elements described as fictional may be wholly imagined or inspired by real-world materials but are presented within a constructed fictional universe.

Etymology: The term derives from fiction, from Latin fictio “a feigning,” from fingere “to shape, to feign.” The English adjective fictional is formed with the suffix -al. A closely related term is fictitious, which is used to describe something that is not genuine or is fabricated, often with a sense of deception or falsehood, though in common use the two terms are sometimes interchangeable in casual writing.

In practice, fictional elements are central to novels, films, plays, and games. They enable world-building, explore themes, and develop characters independent of real events. Readers and viewers typically assess such works as fictional because the events are not real, even when they draw on real locations or historical periods.

Intersections with reality: Some works combine factual research with fictional elements (historical fiction, alternative history, or docudrama). In analysis, scholars may study the function of fictional elements in shaping narrative perspective, reliability, and meaning.