polite fictions

A form of polite fiction — A social scenario in which all participants are aware of a truth, but pretend to believe in some alternative version of events to avoid conflict or embarrassment.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of polite fiction
Cite this entry
APA

polite fictions. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polite%20fictions

MLA

“polite fictions.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polite%20fictions. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polite fictions,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polite%20fictions.

Source: polite fictions on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.