fictive

[ fik-tiv ]

adjective

1. fictitious; imaginary.
2. pertaining to the creation of fiction:

   fictive inventiveness.

ˈfictive

/ ˈfɪktɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or able to create fiction
2. a rare word for fictitious

Derived Forms

• ˈfictively, adverb

Other Words From

• fictive·ly adverb
• non·fictive adjective
• non·fictive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fictive¹

First recorded in 1485–95; fict(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

Still, Jamison found the “triangle” of herself, Godfrey and Guggenheim easier than if she had been working alone within a “dyad” of Godfrey’s “fictive construction.”

From Los Angeles Times

The script, by Wells Tower, is about a fictive drug named Lonafen.

From New York Times

Russia has thrown wave after wave of soldiers, missiles and shells at the country, which Mr. Putin has made clear he believes is a fictive state that should be part of Russia.

From New York Times

“If I put this magic stuff on my actual street, what will happen? Will it be imbued with this fictive energy? I kind of like that idea.”

From Los Angeles Times

The journey helped her heal from a breakup and inspired thoughts about the real and fictive history of the United States’ physical landscapes and how they contribute to the country’s national identity — real and imagined.

From New York Times

Fictive Vs. Fictional Vs. Fictitious

What’s the difference between fictive, fictional, and fictitious?

Fictive is an uncommonly used word that means imaginary or relating to or capable of creating fiction, as in a fictive imagination. Fictional means invented as part of a work of fiction, as in Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective or This account is entirely fictional—it’s not based on a true story. Fictitious most commonly means false or made up, as in I signed in with a fictitious name to hide my identity.

Confusingly, their meanings can overlap—fictive can sometimes mean the same thing as fictitious, and fictitious can sometimes mean the same thing as fictional. It can be tough to remember which word is the right one to use since all three are adjectives that are used in contexts involving things that are imagined or made up.

Still, they are usually used in pretty specific ways. Fictional is almost always applied to stories and characters that are part of creative works, like books and movies, whereas fictitious is most commonly used in the context of things that are made up to conceal something or deceive someone in real life. Fictitious can usually be replaced with the word fake—this is not the case for fictional.

Here’s an example of fictive, fictional, and fictitious used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: Instead of using fictitious names that no one would notice, his aliases were the names of fictional characters, like Clark Kent and Peter Parker—you would think a con artist would have a more fictive imagination.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between fictive, fictional, and fictitious.

Quiz yourself on fictive vs. fictional vs. fictitious!

Should fictive, fictional, or fictitious be used in the following sentence?

The characters in this film are purely _____—any resemblance to real persons is entirely coincidental.