fiction
C1Formal, Neutral, Academic
Definition
Meaning
Literature that describes imaginary people, events, or worlds, created for entertainment or artistic purposes.
A narrative, statement, or belief that is invented or not strictly true, often presented as fact.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun when referring to the genre. Can be countable when referring to a specific invented story or statement ('a complete fiction'). Implies conscious invention, distinct from unintentional falsehood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences exist in collocational preferences (e.g., 'science fiction' vs. 'sci-fi' frequency).
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In legal contexts (e.g., 'legal fiction'), equally formal in both.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in UK English corpus data, but negligible practical difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] + fictionfiction + [about NP]fiction + [that-clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A figment of one's imagination”
- “A work of fiction”
- “Separate fact from fiction”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company's projected profits were pure fiction.'
Academic
In literary studies: 'Postmodern fiction often blurs genre boundaries.' In law: 'The court employs a legal fiction to assume jurisdiction.'
Everyday
Discussing books/films: 'I prefer reading fiction to biographies.' Expressing disbelief: 'His excuse was utter fiction.'
Technical
In library science: 'Catalogued under Fiction, shelved alphabetically by author.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The account was entirely fictioned by the journalist.
American English
- He fictioned an elaborate backstory for the character.
adverb
British English
- The story was presented fictionally as a true account.
American English
- He described the events fictionally, taking creative liberties.
adjective
British English
- She writes both fiction and non-fiction books.
American English
- The fiction section is on the second floor.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like fiction books about animals.
- Harry Potter is fiction.
- This story is not real, it's fiction.
- She only reads historical fiction set in the Victorian era.
- His excuse sounded like complete fiction to me.
- The library has a large fiction section.
- The boundary between fiction and non-fiction is sometimes deliberately blurred.
- The novel uses a legal fiction to explore themes of identity.
- Much of what passes for news on that channel is political fiction.
- The author's latest work of literary fiction deconstructs the very notion of narrative.
- The corporation's public commitment to sustainability was revealed to be a carefully crafted fiction.
- Postcolonial fiction often engages critically with historical accounts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Fiction sounds like 'fixin'' – you're 'fixin'' or making up a story that isn't real.
Conceptual Metaphor
FICTION IS FABRICATION (constructed, assembled, woven). FICTION IS A CONTAINER (a world, a universe).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'фикцией' (редкое, книжное слово). В русском 'фантастика' часто означает только 'science fiction', а не весь жанр fiction. 'Беллетристика' имеет негативный оттенок (низкокачественная литература), которого нет в нейтральном 'fiction'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun incorrectly: 'I read a fiction' (incorrect) vs. 'I read a work of fiction' or 'I read some fiction' (correct). Confusing with 'friction' (physical resistance).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'fiction' used in a technical, non-literary sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While commonly associated with novels and stories, 'fiction' can refer to any invented narrative or claim, including in film, TV, or everyday speech (e.g., 'His alibi was a fiction').
Fiction is invented narrative, while non-fiction aims to describe factual reality (e.g., history, biography). The line can be blurred in genres like creative non-fiction or autofiction.
Yes, but less common. It's countable when referring to a specific invented statement or story ('The report was a fiction from start to finish'). Usually, for books, we say 'a work of fiction' or 'a novel'.
No. 'Science fiction' is a sub-genre of fiction focused on imaginative, often futuristic concepts. 'Fiction' is the overarching category that includes science fiction, romance, mystery, literary fiction, etc.