fabricate
gb/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt/ us/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
invent false information or evidence
To make up a story, fact, or evidence that is not true, usually to fool other people.
Usage pattern:
to fabricate [a story/evidence/claim]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'fabricate' always means 'build' or 'make' because of the word 'fabric'. In modern English, when used with words like 'story', 'evidence', 'data', or 'rumor', it almost always means 'to invent something false'. Also, do not say *'fabricate about a story'*; the verb is transitive, so say 'fabricate a story', 'fabricate evidence', etc.
Synonyms
make up (More informal and very common in everyday speech.)
|
invent (Can also mean creating something new; only means ‘lie’ when context makes it clear.)
|
falsify (More formal and technical, especially for documents, records, or data.)
Antonyms
verify (Means to check and show that something is true, the opposite of creating false information.)
Collocations
fabricate a story
|fabricate evidence
|fabricate lies
|fabricate data
|fabricate charges
|completely fabricated
Themes
communication
|law
|ethics
Examples
- The witness admitted he had fabricated the entire story to get attention.
- Officials were accused of fabricating evidence to secure a conviction.
- She claimed the rumors were completely fabricated by her rivals.
- The journalist lost his job after fabricating quotes from several sources.
- Researchers faced serious penalties for fabricating data in their report.
Learner examples
- He fabricated a story about why he was late.
- The police say someone fabricated the evidence.
- Those emails are fabricated; they are not real.
- She fabricated a lie to protect her friend.
Verb
technical
C1
action
2
manufacture or construct something
To build or make a thing from parts or materials, often in a factory or workshop.
Usage pattern:
to fabricate [a part/structure] from [material]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse this technical meaning with the 'lie' meaning. When 'fabricate' is used with words like 'parts', 'beams', 'components', 'metal', or 'frame', it usually means 'make/build', not 'invent something false'. Also, the verb needs an object: say 'fabricate metal parts', not *'fabricate in metal'* when you mean 'make parts from metal'.
Synonyms
manufacture (Very close in meaning; more general and common for making products in factories.)
|
construct (Focuses on building, especially large or complex structures; not limited to factories.)
Antonyms
demolish (Means to tear down or destroy something that has been built, the opposite of making or building it.)
Collocations
fabricate metal parts
|fabricate steel beams
|fabricate components
|custom-fabricated parts
|fabricate the frame
|fabricated in-house
Themes
technology
|work
|engineering
Examples
- The company fabricates metal parts for the automotive industry.
- These steel beams were fabricated off-site and then delivered to the construction area.
- The lab can fabricate tiny sensors using advanced 3D printers.
- All the components are fabricated to very precise measurements.
- They specialize in fabricating custom frames from aluminum.
Learner examples
- The factory fabricates car parts.
- These pipes are fabricated from plastic.
- Our shop can fabricate a new door for you.
- Engineers fabricated a small model of the bridge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fabricate
IPA
GB/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt/
US/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
fab - ric - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fab)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: fabricate
- 3rd Person Singular: fabricates
- Present Participle: fabricating
- Past: fabricated
Word family
Forms
fabricates
verb
fabricating
verb
fabricated
verb
Core family
fabrication
noun B2
Related words
fabricator
noun
fabric
noun A2
Expressions
custom-fabricated
1/kˈʌstəm fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪtɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
made specially to order
Made in a special way for one person or customer, not mass-produced.
Examples
- The bike has a custom-fabricated steel frame.
- They installed a custom-fabricated window to fit the old wall.
fabricate a story
1/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt ə stˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
make up a false story
To make up a story that is not true.
Examples
- He fabricated a story about being robbed.
- She later admitted she had fabricated the story for attention.
fabricate charges
1/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt t͡ʃˈɑɹd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
create false accusations or crimes
To say someone did a crime when this is not true, and to create false proof for it.
Examples
- Activists claimed that the government had fabricated charges to silence them.
- The court found that the police had fabricated charges against the protesters.
fabricate evidence
1/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪt ˈɛvədəns/
fixed phrase
invent or falsify legal proof
To make fake proof or documents to make something seem true when it is not.
Examples
- The detectives later discovered that someone had tried to fabricate evidence.
- Any attempt to fabricate evidence could result in jail time.
fabricated from whole cloth
1/fˈæbɹɪkˌeɪtɪd fɹˈʌm hˈoʊl klˈɔθ/
idiom
completely made up and false
Completely invented and not based on any real facts.
Examples
- The allegation was fabricated from whole cloth.
- Investigators concluded that the story was fabricated from whole cloth.