confabulate

verb
con·​fab·​u·​late | \ kən-ˈfa-byə-ˌlāt How to pronounce confabulate (audio) \
confabulated; confabulating

Definition of confabulate

intransitive verb

1 : to talk informally : chat
2 : to hold a discussion : confer
3 : to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication A major characteristic of brain-damaged patients is the tendency to confabulate—to hide and dissemble about their damage.— Peter R. Breggin

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Other Words from confabulate

confabulation \ kən-​ˌfa-​byə-​ˈlā-​shən How to pronounce confabulation (audio) \ noun
confabulator \ kən-​ˈfa-​byə-​ˌlā-​tər How to pronounce confabulator (audio) \ noun
confabulatory \ kən-​ˈfa-​byə-​lə-​ˌtȯr-​ē How to pronounce confabulatory (audio) \ adjective

Did You Know?

Confabulate is a fabulous word for making fantastic fabrications. Given the similarities in spelling and sound, you might guess that "confabulate" and "fabulous" come from the same root, and they do - the Latin fabula, which means "conversation, story." Another "fabula" descendant that continues to tell tales in English is "fable." All three words have long histories in English: "fable" first appeared in writing in the 14th century, and "fabulous" followed in the 15th. "Confabulate" is a relative newcomer, appearing at the beginning of the 1600s.

Examples of confabulate in a Sentence

an Alzheimer's support group in which caregivers can confabulate as well as commiserate

First Known Use of confabulate

circa 1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for confabulate

Latin confabulatus, past participle of confabulari, from com- + fabulari to talk, from fabula story — more at fable

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