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.
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.