imaginary meaning and definition

IMAGINARY noun

Definition of imaginary (noun)

1. (mathematics) a number of the form a+bi where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of -1
   • synonyms: complex number, complex quantity, imaginary number

IMAGINARY adjective

Definition of imaginary (adjective)

1. not based on fact; unreal
   • "the falsehood about some fanciful secret treaties"- F.D.Roosevelt; "a small child's imaginary friends"; "to create a notional world for oneself"
   • synonyms: fanciful, notional