What does fabricate mean?
Word: Fabricate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Fabricate means to make up a story or excuse that is not true. It can also mean to build something from several parts.
Synonyms: make up
How do you spell fabricate?
Syllables: fab - ri - cate
Tricky part: A weak middle vowel can look like an e, but fabrecate is wrong. It is an i.
Watch out for: fabrecate, fabrikate, fabbricate
Memory tip: A tailor stitches fabric, and the i of that cloth word carries straight into this verb.
Fabricate in a sentence
Example 1: Do not fabricate a reason for being late; just tell the truth.
Example 2: Engineers fabricate the bridge sections on land and float them into place.
Example 3: The film's makers fabricate a whole city out of cardboard and paint.
Fun Fact
The word shares a Latin parent, fabrica, meaning a workshop, with the word fabric, which in English once meant a building.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. recieve 2. construct 3. polish 4. fabricate
a) rub a surface until it shines
b) get something that is given to you
c) build something large, such as a bridge
d) put a thing together from separate parts
Show answer
b) get something that is given to you. Receive has its e before the i, straight after the c.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word fabricate as used in the sentence:
My younger brother loves to fabricate silly tales about a talking goat.
a) forget
b) enjoy
c) invent
d) repeat
Show answer
c) invent. To invent a tale is to think it up from nothing, just as he does.
Mingle-Mangle
The jumbled word in the sentence hides a real word. Choose it:
A small workshop near the docks will beatarfci steel frames for the new school desks.
a) fabricate
b) celebrate
c) lubricate
d) fascinate
Show answer
a) fabricate. Spot the f and the b together: lubricate, fascinate and celebrate each lack one of them.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
fabric_t_
a) a,e
b) e,e
c) a,a
d) i,e
Show answer
a) a,e. Like many verbs, it closes with ate.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In which case is someone fabricating an excuse?
a) admitting that you left your bag at home
b) asking your teacher for a little more time
c) saying sorry for handing your homework in late
d) blaming a pet you do not have for lost homework
Show answer
d) blaming a pet you do not have for lost homework
2. What are factory workers doing when they fabricate parts?
a) sweeping the floors after a shift
b) checking the time sheets for the week
c) shaping materials into finished pieces
d) loading boxes on to delivery vans
Show answer
c) shaping materials into finished pieces
