Fiction Meaning

UK /ˈfɪkʃən/
US /ˈfɪkʃən/
Word Definition
fiction meaning

Fiction Definition & Usage

noun

A genre of literature, film, or other media that tells stories created from the imagination rather than based strictly on real events.

Examples

  • "She spent the afternoon reading a science fiction novel."
  • "The movie is a work of fiction, not based on a true story."
  • "His favorite genre is historical fiction, especially books set during ancient Rome."
  • "Many great works of fiction explore the complexities of human emotions."
  • "The plot of the novel is pure fiction, despite being set in a real city."
noun

A false or invented story or account, not based on factual information.

Examples

  • "He told me a fiction about how he met the president."
  • "The idea that he invented the lightbulb is a common fiction."
  • "Her claim to have seen a UFO was nothing more than a fiction."
  • "It’s just fiction to say that money doesn’t matter in politics."
  • "The story about the haunted house was purely a fiction passed down through generations."

Cultural Context

Fiction has been a central part of human culture for millennia, from oral storytelling traditions to modern novels, movies, and TV shows. It allows authors and creators to explore the realms of possibility, fantasy, and the human condition. While fiction can be rooted in real-life experiences or historical events, it is typically distinguished from nonfiction by its reliance on imagination rather than verifiable fact.

The Fictional Escape

Story

The Fictional Escape

It was a rainy evening when Emily sat down with her cup of tea, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the room. She had just returned from a long day at work, her mind buzzing with the humdrum of corporate life. But tonight was different. She had decided to escape, even if only for a few hours, into the world of fiction. As she flipped open the cover of her latest science fiction novel, the words on the pages seemed to transport her to a distant future where humanity had colonized planets across the galaxy. In this imagined world, wars were fought with advanced technology, and entire civilizations lived under the constant threat of alien invasions. The story was pure fiction, of course, but it allowed her to forget about her own reality for a little while. The main character, a young pilot named Samara, was on a mission to find a missing fleet, a plot full of mystery and adventure. Emily was captivated, imagining herself in Samara's shoes, flying through the stars, facing danger and uncertainty. But then, as the narrative unfolded, Emily began to think about the broader meaning of the story. Samara’s journey wasn’t just about space battles; it was a metaphor for the struggles we all face in real life—the desire to prove ourselves, the fear of failure, and the courage to keep going even when everything seems impossible. The book was a work of fiction, but it spoke to something deeper. It reminded her of the stories she had heard as a child, like the fable of the tortoise and the hare, where slow and steady won the race. Suddenly, her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from her colleague, Mark, asking about a project they were working on. Emily rolled her eyes, frustrated. "Another reality check," she muttered under her breath. She thought back to the book, where Samara had been constantly reminded of her mission, no matter how difficult or absurd it seemed. Was her work any different? Were her daily tasks just another kind of fiction? As the evening wore on, Emily continued to read, allowing herself to indulge in the escapism that fiction provided. Yet, at the back of her mind, she realized that fiction wasn’t just a way to escape—it was a way to better understand the world and herself. By the time she finished the novel, the rain had stopped, and the moonlight was filtering through the window. Emily closed the book with a sigh, feeling both satisfied and inspired. She had spent the evening lost in another world, but she knew that fiction, while a form of escape, also had the power to make her think about her own life in new ways.

The Fictional Escape