made-up

American  

[meyd-uhp] / ˈmeɪdˈʌp /

adjective

1. concocted; falsely fabricated or invented.

   a made-up story.

2. being in makeup; wearing facial cosmetics.

3. put together; finished.

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made-up British  

adjective

1. invented; fictional

   a made-up story

2. wearing make-up

   a well made-up woman

3. put together; assembled

4. (of a road) surfaced with asphalt, concrete, etc

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Etymology

Origin of made-up

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Amanda, from Swansea, said it was "the best surprise ever", with made-up storylines and new characters introduced just for her.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Yet the chair is now staring down a potential criminal charge for a made-up crime.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026

The shadow fleet is largely made-up of aged tankers, many with obscure ownership or insurance.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

Other impressive works include Mexico City-based Abraham Cruzvillegas’ exceptional sculpture, “Autoconcancion V” — the title’s made-up word translates to “auto with song” — which upends conventional L.A. car culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

Now, what’s a “play-pretty”? As if it’s not hard enough figuring out real stuff, I have to figure out the meanings of made-up words!

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper