WordValefable
a short tale with animals teaching a moral
In more detail
1. (noun) a short story that teaches a moral lesson, usually with animals as characters
2. (noun) a story that is not true; a lie
Examples
- Aesop's fables teach children about honesty and hard work.
- Don't believe that fable about how he got rich—he inherited the money.
How to use fable
Fable typically refers to a traditional short story with a moral lesson, often featuring animals that speak or act like humans, as in Aesop's Fables. The secondary meaning—a lie or fabrication—is less common in modern usage but appears in phrases like 'that's just a fable.' The term is generally used in literary, educational, or historical contexts.
Common phrases
- moral of the fable
- tell a fable
- ancient fable
- Aesop's fables
- fable about greed
Synonyms
parable · tale · allegory · legend · fairy tale
Opposites
fact · truth
Word family
fabled (adjective) · fabulist (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'fable' interchangeably with 'fairy tale' or 'myth,' but fables are distinguished by their explicit moral lesson and usually smaller scope; fairy tales often involve magic and princes, while myths explain natural phenomena or cultural origins.
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