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Confabulated: meaning, definitions and examples

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confabulated

 

[ kənˈfæb.jʊ.leɪtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

psychology term

Confabulated refers to the act of fabricating or inventing false memories or narratives, often without the intention to deceive. This phenomenon occurs commonly in individuals with memory disorders, such as amnesia, where they create stories to fill in the gaps of their memory. Confabulation is not the same as lying, as individuals may genuinely believe in the reality of their constructed memories. It illustrates the complexities of human memory and the brain's attempts to make sense of incomplete information.

Synonyms

fabricate, invent, misremember.

Examples of usage

  • He confabulated details of his childhood when asked about it.
  • Patients often confabulate to explain their missing memories.
  • The confabulated story sounded realistic but was untrue.

Translations

Translations of the word "confabulated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 confabulado

🇮🇳 गप्पबाज़ी किया हुआ

🇩🇪 konfabulieren

🇮🇩 berbicara

🇺🇦 конфабульований

🇵🇱 konfabuluje

🇯🇵 空想された

🇫🇷 confabulé

🇪🇸 confabulado

🇹🇷 konfabüle edilmiş

🇰🇷 허구로 만들어진

🇸🇦 مُخترَع

🇨🇿 konfabulovaný

🇸🇰 konfabulovaný

🇨🇳 虚构的

🇸🇮 konfabuliran

🇮🇸 samfabraður

🇰🇿 құрастырылған

🇬🇪 კონფაბულირებული

🇦🇿 konfabulyasiyaya məruz qalmış

🇲🇽 confabulado

Etymology

The term 'confabulation' traces its roots to the Latin word 'confabulare', which means 'to talk together' or 'to converse'. It entered the English language in the 19th century, primarily associated with memory disorders in psychological contexts. Originally, confabulation referred to informal discussions, but its meaning evolved in medical terminology to denote the creation of false memories. The initial usage in the psychological realm highlighted how individuals with cognitive impairments would unconsciously fabricate details to construct a coherent narrative of their past. As our understanding of memory and cognitive psychology advanced, confabulation became a key concept in studying dissociative states, amnesia, and other related disorders, emphasizing the intricate connection between memory, identity, and perception.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,303, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.