Factitious

/fækˈtɪʃəs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Artificially created or developed; not genuine or natural.

The factitious nature of the product raised doubts about its efficacy.

Produced by human or social contrivance rather than by natural processes.

The factitious quality of the celebration made it feel less authentic.

Specifically, a term used in medicine to describe symptoms or conditions that are artificially created or feigned.

The doctor suspected that the patient's symptoms were factitious and needed further investigation.

From Latin 'factitius', meaning 'made by art, artificial'.

factitious disorder

A mental disorder in which a person acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick.

factitious claims

Claims that are not based on fact or reality, often fabricated.

fiction

Literature created from the imagination, not based solely on fact.

simulate

To imitate the appearance or character of something.

artifice

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.

Fake or made up

That news report is just a bunch of factitious nonsense.

Not real, just for show

Her enthusiasm seemed really factitious.