online vocabulary.com

Confabulation - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Confabulation is the unconscious creation of false or distorted memories, often to fill gaps in recollection. It is common in certain neurological conditions and not intentional deception.

confabulation

/kənˌfæbjəˈleɪʃən/ /kɒnˌfæbjʊˈleɪʃən/

Definition:

Fabrication of imaginary experiences as compensation for memory loss or gaps.

Synonyms:

fabrication, invention, fantasy, falsehood

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

truth, reality

Common Collocations:

memory loss, psychological disorder, casual conversation

Derivatives:

confabulate, confabulatory, confabulator

Usage Tips:

Use "confabulation" to describe unintentional false memories, often in medical or psychological contexts.

Common Phrases:

fill in the gaps, make up stories, spin a yarn

Etymology:

From Latin "confabulari," meaning "to converse," later evolving to imply fabrication in psychology.

Examples:

  • 1. The patient's confabulation masked his memory gaps with vivid but false details.
  • 2. Her confabulation about the event confused everyone who knew the truth.
  • 3. Doctors noted his confabulation as a symptom of his condition.
  • 4. Children sometimes engage in harmless confabulation when telling imaginative stories.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS