fabricate

verb

fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-bri-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
fabricated; fabricating
Synonyms of fabricate

transitive verb

1
a
: invent, create
b
: to make up for the purpose of deception
accused of fabricating evidence
2
: construct, manufacture
specifically : to construct from diverse and usually standardized parts
Their plan is to fabricate the house out of synthetic parts.
fabricator
ˈfa-bri-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of fabricate

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Examples of fabricate in a Sentence

Only the largest parts were fabricated at the factory. Their plan is to fabricate the house out of synthetic materials. a story fabricated to sell magazines She was accused of fabricating data.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She is accused of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and failing to stop and remain on scene of an accident involving death, the statement said. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026 Looking for these details in others’ profiles can help delineate between users who are using AI to fabricate their profiles and presenting authentic personas. — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Both are obviously fabricated, but neither of the candidates depicted is amused. — Max Raskin, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2026 Jeffrey Royer was an FBI agent from 1996 to 2001 and defrauded investors by falsely representing how their funds would be used and fabricating documents about their investments' performance, according to the district attorney's office. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fabricate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fabricaten, borrowed from Latin fabricātus, past participle of fabricāre, fabricārī "to fashion, shape, construct," derivative of fabrica "process of making something, craft, art" — more at fabric

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fabricate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for fabricate

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Browse Nearby Words

fabricant
fabricate
fabrication
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fabricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fabricate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fabricate

verb
fab·​ri·​cate ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
fabricated; fabricating
1
: invent sense 2, create
2
: to make up in order to deceive
fabricated evidence to support her claim
3
: construct sense 1, manufacture
fabrication
ˌfab-ri-ˈkā-shən
noun
fabricator
ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt-ər How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

fabricate

verb
fab·​ri·​cate ˈfa-brə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fabricate (audio)
fabricated; fabricating

transitive verb

: to make up (as testimony) with an intent to deceive

intransitive verb

: to make something up with an intent to deceive
there was a motive to fabricate—Gary Taylor
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