figment

figment — noun

1. something such as a sight, sound, or idea that a person believes is real but has

1.名詞B2
釋義

something such as a sight, sound, or idea that a person believes is real but has been created entirely by their own mind

例句

Theo's fear of a monster under his bed was just a figment of his imagination.

figment of [possessive] imagination — fixed phrase

Aiko thought she heard her name in the wind, but the sound was a figment.

同義詞
  • illusion

    suggests something that tricks the senses; figment emphasises mental invention

  • hallucination

    implies a sensory experience caused by illness or drugs; figment is not medical

  • fantasy

    broader — can be a deliberate daydream; figment is always mistaken for real

反義詞
  • fact

    something known to be true and real

  • reality

    the state of things as they actually exist

用法筆記

Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'figment of [someone's] imagination', which emphasises that something is entirely unreal.

常見錯誤

❌I had a figment about winning the lottery.
✅Winning the lottery was just a figment of my imagination.
💡'figment' is not used alone as a synonym for 'daydream' or 'fantasy'; it requires the 'of [someone's] imagination' frame.