noun
fib
fihb
noun
1
A small, usually harmless lie.
"He told a little fib about finishing his homework."
verb
1
To tell a small, harmless lie.
"She fibbed about her age on the form."
How to Use Fib
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA minor, low-stakes lie.
Common mistake
A fib is smaller and less serious than a lie — calling something a "fib" often softens the accusation.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
fibbed past tense, fibbed past tense, fibs plural, fibs plural, fibs plural, fibs singular, fibs singular
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He told a little _____ about finishing his homework.
Etymology
Origin unclear, but likely a shortened form of "fable," possibly influenced by the old expression fible-fable meaning "nonsense."