noun

1. a making up of imaginary happenings; feigning
2. anything made up or imagined, as a statement, story, etc.
3. 1. literary narratives, collectively, which portray imaginary characters or events, specif. novels and short stories
   2. a narrative of this kind
4. something accepted as fact for the sake of convenience, although not necessarily true

Etymology: ME ficcioun < OFr fiction < L fictio, a making, counterfeiting < pp. of fingere, to form, mold: see dough