Learn English – Fictive vs fictional vs fictitious? Difference between them

word-differenceword-meaning

As I consulted dictionary and looked them up, they all probably express similarly the same thing.

fictive adjective
/ˈfɪktɪv/

created by imagination

fictional adjective
/ˈfɪkʃənl/

not real or true; existing only in stories; connected with fiction

fictitious adjective
/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/

invented by someone rather than true

Could you show us the difference between them?

Best Answer

The adjectives fictional and fictitious are much more common than fictive.

I think

  • You'll hear or see fictional used more when dealing with literature, as is: fictional stories, fictional characters.

whereas:

  • You’ll hear or see fictitious used more when dealing with falsehoods, as in: fictitious names, fictitious alibi.

I can’t think of a reason the two couldn’t be synonymous, and what I’ve listed here is not a hard difference that must be adhered to. But I think that, in general, I’d consider Oliver Twist to be a fictional name, whereas a wanted criminal might use a fictitious name to conceal his true identity from authorities.

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