imaginary
UK: ɪˈmædʒɪnəri | US: ɪˈmædʒɪneri
adj. existing only in the imagination; not real
adj. (mathematics) involving the square root of a negative number
The word "imaginary" traces back to the Latin imaginarius, derived from imago (meaning "image" or "likeness"). The root imagin- reflects the act of forming mental pictures, while the suffix -ary (from Latin -arius) turns it into an adjective. Over time, "imaginary" evolved to describe things that exist solely in thought, later adopting a specialized meaning in mathematics to describe numbers involving √-1.
The child had an imaginary friend who lived in a treehouse.
In physics, imaginary numbers are essential for solving certain equations.
Her fears were purely imaginary, with no basis in reality.
The novel is set in an imaginary world with unique laws of nature.
He dismissed the rumors as imaginary threats.