1 fib | Definition of fib

fib

noun
\ ˈfib How to pronounce fib (audio) \

Definition of fib

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: a trivial or childish lie

fib

verb (1)
fibbed; fibbing

Definition of fib (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to tell a fib

fib

verb (2)
fibbed; fibbing

Definition of fib (Entry 3 of 3)

British

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Other Words from fib

Verb (1)

fibber noun

Choose the Right Synonym for fib

Verb (1)

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth. lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty. lied about where he had been prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue. during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another. equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises. a swindler paltering with his investors fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth. fibbed about the price of the new suit

Examples of fib in a Sentence

Noun

I have to admit that I told a fib when I said I enjoyed the movie. Is she telling fibs again?

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Witnesses said Banks and Harris forced their way in, but Kucaba noted that there was no sign the door was tampered with, and that the teens had incentive to fib since they weren’t allowed to have certain visitors when their mother wasn’t present. Megan Crepeau, chicagotribune.com, "Woman convicted in killing of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ grandson in spat over gym shoes," 24 July 2019 This aggressively contemporary tale of a social-media fib that whips itself into a viral whirlwind became its own sensation and scored a half-dozen Tony Awards in 2017, including the trophy for best musical. Michael Andor Brodeur, BostonGlobe.com, "The Weekender: French films, first-rate fests, and OMG ‘Evan Hansen’!," 11 July 2019 Finally, there are surgical procedures that eliminate a-fib entirely in some individuals. John Timmer, Ars Technica, "What is atrial fibrillation, and why is your watch telling you about it?," 26 Sep. 2018 That part was a fib: The computers were programmed to crash regardless of which keys were hit. Douglas Starr, Science | AAAS, "This psychologist explains why people confess to crimes they didn’t commit," 13 June 2019 After actually trying them, the fib became reality, and everyone raved about the snack on camera. Taylor Rock, Fox News, "Burger King debuts crispy chicken tenders," 22 Sep. 2018 Alcohol consumption and exercise also affect heart rate and can mask or mimic a-fib. Deborah Gage, WSJ, "Wearable Health Monitors: Do They Work?," 16 Sep. 2018 The authors also monitored the patients for strokes going forward — for a median of 3.6 years after their diagnosis with a-fib. Tom Avril, Philly.com, "Black patients with a-fib at higher risk of stroke, Penn study finds," 19 Feb. 2018 Kahan also gets caught in a little fib when asked for a fact about himself that might surprise people. Rebecca Schiller, Billboard, "Get to Know 'Hurt Somebody' Singer-Songwriter Noah Kahan: Watch," 4 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But smart pols know which fibs the media will applaud. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "Politicians Never Lied Before Trump," 11 Jan. 2019 As far as the food, Pacifico fibbed, advertising crab on the menu/menu board but serving imitation crab. David J. Neal, miamiherald, "Rodent poop in a fruit bowl, near soup, on shelves. These restaurants are in deep ...," 7 June 2018 Survey results will be skewed if the types who do not answer are different from those who do, or if certain types of people are more loth to answer some questions, or more likely to fib. The Economist, "Plunging response rates to household surveys worry policymakers," 24 May 2018 Arizona wouldn’t have been fibbing on his height, right? Mark Zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "NBA Draft Combine: shorter players, heavier players and a freak of nature," 17 May 2018 The machine, and Sylvestre, in the past have found that Hillary Clinton, former FBI director James Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch have fibbed bigly. Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, "Nat'l Enquirer scoops! Trump aces polygraph! Cohen role questioned!," 28 Apr. 2018 Here’s how the scam worked, according to court documents: A mortgage application fibbing about the buyer’s income, assets or down payment (or all three) would be submitted to Washington Mutual. David J. Neal, miamiherald, "He directed $20 million in fake luxury home buys. That bought real prison time.," 1 Feb. 2018 So fibbing about your past compensation in hopes of securing a raise may not work out so well. Ron Lieber, New York Times, "You Can’t Fire Equifax, but Your Employer Can. Mine Just Did.," 26 Jan. 2018 Elsewhere, Fox analyst Guy Benson offered his take on a New York Times chart comparing Trump and Barack Obama lies, claiming Trump has fibbed at a rate six times greater in his first ten months. James Warren, The Hive, "Will Bob Iger’s Mega-Merger Turn Disney Into a Monster?," 15 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fib.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fib

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1675, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fib

Noun

perhaps by shortening & alteration from fable

Verb (2)

origin unknown

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More Definitions for fib

fib

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fib

informal : an untrue statement about something minor or unimportant

fib

noun
\ ˈfib