Etymologically
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fictional

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 16:21. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈfɪkʃənəl/[1]

Etymology

It is from English fiction + -al.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to fiction: 1833 in Etymonline, 1843 in the OED.[2][4] Earlier, fictitious was also used in this sense (1773).[2]

Semantic evolution

Fictionalize and fictionalization are from 1889,[4] and fictionality from the mid-20th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 1773 – fictitious, of fiction.[2]
  • 1833 – fictional.[2]
  • 1889 – fictionalize.[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relating to fiction; invented for a story: a fictional character.

Word family

  • semifictional
  • fictive
  • fictionalize
  • fictitious
  • fiction
  • feign

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press