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.
GPTZero investigation published 14 May 2026 found 16 of 27 citations fabricated, misattributed, or broken, including references to Forbes, McKinsey, Gartner, TechCrunch, and WIRED. — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Speaking about the auditory hallucination Clancy experienced, Reddington slammed the implication that Paul Zeizel, the psychologist who met her in the hospital, told her to fabricate the story. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Replacing the conventional approach Chip manufacturers have conventionally used the reactive-ion etching (RIE) process for fabricating their semiconductor chips. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026 An 18-year-old North Carolina woman threatened to fabricate child molestation accusations if a man didn’t give her cash, according to police in Huntersville. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Fabricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fabricate. Accessed 1 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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