fable

UK: /ˈfeɪb^əl/ US: /ˈfeɪbəl/ ,(fā′bəl)

Inflections of 'fable' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fables

v 3rd person singular

fabling

v pres p

fabled

v past

fabled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fa•ble /ˈfeɪbəl/   n. [countable]

1. Literature a short tale used to teach a moral lesson, often with animals as characters:
   Fables are found in many cultures, with different animals as the main characters.
2. Literature a story not based on fact, such as a myth or legend.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fa•ble  (fā′bəl), n., v., -bled, -bling. 
n. 

1. Literature a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters;
   apologue:
   the fable of the tortoise and the hare; Aesop's fables.
2. Literature a story not founded on fact:
   This biography is largely a self-laudatory fable.
3. Literature a story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents;
   legend:
   the fables of gods and heroes.
4. Literature legends or myths collectively:
   the heroes of Greek fable.
5. Literature an untruth;
   falsehood:
   This boast of a cure is a medical fable.
6. Literature the plot of an epic, a dramatic poem, or a play.
7. idle talk:
   old wives' fables.

v.i. 

8. Literature to tell or write fables.
9. to speak falsely;
   lie:
   to fable about one's past.

v.t. 

10. to describe as if actually so;
    talk about as if true:
    She is fabled to be the natural daughter of a king.

• Latin fābula a story, tale, equivalent. to fā(rī) to speak + -bula suffix of instrument
• Anglo-French, Old French
• Middle English fable, fabel, fabul 1250–1300

fa′bler, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See legend. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fable / ˈfeɪb^əl/ noun

1. a short moral story, esp one with animals as characters
2. a false, fictitious, or improbable account; fiction or lie
3. a story or legend about supernatural or mythical characters or events
4. legends or myths collectively

verb

1. to relate or tell (fables)
2. (intransitive) to speak untruthfully; tell lies
3. (transitive) to talk about or describe in the manner of a fable

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin fābula story, narrative, from fārī to speak, say

ˈfabler noun