What Is Another Way to Say “Not Real”?

Looking for synonyms for not real? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say not real.

  • Imaginary
  • Fictitious
  • Unreal
  • Fabricated
  • False
  • Illusory
  • Artificial
  • Invented
  • Simulated
  • Phony
  • Pretend
  • Mythical
  • Synthetic
  • Make-believe
  • Spurious
  • Nonexistent
  • Bogus
  • Counterfeit
  • Apocryphal
  • Pseudo

Want to learn how to say not real professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Imaginary

Use to describe something created in the mind.
Example: “The marketing team brainstormed an imaginary scenario for the ad campaign.”

2. Fictitious

Appropriate for something invented or untrue.
Example: “The report included a fictitious case study to illustrate the point.”

3. Unreal

Use for something that is so strange it seems like it cannot be real or true.
Example: “The projected profits in the proposal seem unreal and overly optimistic.”

4. Fabricated

Suitable for something made up or falsified.
Example: “The data in the study was discovered to be fabricated.”

5. False

Use to describe something that is not true or correct.
Example: “The allegations against the company were found to be false.”

6. Illusory

Appropriate for something that is not real and is deceiving.
Example: “The success of the product was illusory, as it did not last long.”

7. Artificial

Use for something made or produced to imitate something natural.
Example: “The team used artificial intelligence to simulate market trends.”

8. Invented

Suitable for something that has been created or designed.
Example: “The storyline in the training video was completely invented.”

9. Simulated

Use to describe something that is made to look, feel, or behave like something else.
Example: “The training exercise used a simulated environment for real-world experience.”

10. Phony

Appropriate for something that is not genuine or fraudulent.
Example: “The consultant was exposed for presenting phony credentials.”

11. Pretend

Use to describe something that is not real but intended to appear real.
Example: “In the role-play exercise, employees had to deal with a pretend client scenario.”

12. Mythical

Suitable for something that is fictional or not based on reality.
Example: “The brand’s origin story is based on a mythical narrative.”

13. Synthetic

Use for something artificial or not natural.
Example: “The lab developed a synthetic model to test the product.”

14. Make-believe

Appropriate for play or pretending.
Example: “The team-building activity involved a make-believe scenario for problem-solving.”

15. Spurious

Use to describe something that is false or not genuine.
Example: “The spurious claims about the product were quickly debunked.”

16. Nonexistent

Suitable for something that does not exist.
Example: “The report mentioned a nonexistent policy in its analysis.”

17. Bogus

Use to describe something that is fake or fraudulent.
Example: “The company was accused of selling bogus insurance plans.”

18. Counterfeit

Appropriate for a fraudulent imitation or copy.
Example: “The market was flooded with counterfeit versions of our product.”

19. Apocryphal

Use for a story or statement of doubtful authenticity.
Example: “There are many apocryphal tales about the company’s early days.”

20. Pseudo

Suitable for something that is fake or pretending to be something it is not.
Example: “The pseudo-scientific claims made by the ad were eventually challenged.”

Linda Brown