imaginary
adjective
imag·i·nary
i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē 
-ˌne-rē
1
a
: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality
b
: formed or characterized imaginatively or arbitrarily
his canvases, chiefly imaginary, somber landscapes—
Current Biography
Current Biography2
: containing or relating to the imaginary unit
imaginary roots
Examples of imaginary in a Sentence
The two groups were separated by an imaginary line down the middle of the room.
an imaginary world of dragons and unicorns
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike the more familiar real numbers – positive and negative integers, fractions, square roots, cube roots and even numbers such as pi – complex numbers have an imaginary component.
—William Ross, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025
The system that most captured his imagination was an imaginary device that had launched the field of computer science, the Turing machine.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Getting put in imaginary handcuffs, a reference to Miami-Dade police’s detainment of the All-Pro receiver outside of Hard Rock Stadium prior to Sunday’s game.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Science fiction authors wrote original narratives to correspond with each of the nine imaginary planets.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imaginary
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William Ross, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025
The system that most captured his imagination was an imaginary device that had launched the field of computer science, the Turing machine.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Getting put in imaginary handcuffs, a reference to Miami-Dade police’s detainment of the All-Pro receiver outside of Hard Rock Stadium prior to Sunday’s game.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Science fiction authors wrote original narratives to correspond with each of the nine imaginary planets.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imaginary
Articles Related to imaginary
Cite this Entry
“Imaginary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imaginary. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imaginary
adjective
imag·i·nary
im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē
: existing only in imagination : not real
unicorns are imaginary
Medical Definition
imaginary
adjective
imag·i·nary
im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē
: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality
imaginary fears
an imaginary illness
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