imaginary
word
/ˌɪˈmædʒəˌnɛɹi/
i-MA-ji-ner-ee
/ɪmˈædʒɪnəɹi/
i-MA-ji-nuh-ree
Definition
Something that exists only in your mind and is not real; created by imagination and not found in reality.
Usage & Nuances
Usually used to describe something not physically real, such as 'imaginary friend' or 'imaginary number' (in math). Not used for things that are simply hard to see or understand. Common collocations: 'imaginary world', 'purely imaginary'. Avoid confusing with 'imaginative' (being creative).
Spanish: imaginario - ficticioPortuguese (BR): imaginário - fictícioPortuguese (PT): imaginário - fictícioChinese (Simplified): 想象的 - 虚构的Chinese (Traditional): 想像的 - 虛構的Hindi: कल्पित - काल्पनिकArabic: خيالي - وهميBengali: কল্পিত - কাল্পনিকRussian: воображаемыйJapanese: 想像上の - 空想のVietnamese: tưởng tượngKorean: 상상의 - 가상의Turkish: hayaliUrdu: خیالیIndonesian: khayalan - imajiner
Example Sentences
Children sometimes have an imaginary friend.
basic
The dragon in the story is imaginary.
basic
Sometimes my fears are just imaginary and not based on facts.
natural
He lives in an imaginary world.
basic
The story takes place in an imaginary land full of magic.
natural
In math, an imaginary number is not really a number you find in daily life.
natural