1. converting real events, people, or situations into a work of fiction; creating a fictional account based on factual material
Usage: present participle of fictionalize; commonly used in literary and film contexts

Examples

• The author is fictionalizing her grandmother's life story for her new novel.
• The screenwriter is fictionalizing the historical events to make them more engaging for audiences.
• By fictionalizing the memoir, the director added dramatic elements that weren't in the original text.
• Critics debated whether fictionalizing real crimes was ethical.
• The director defended fictionalizing certain details to protect the privacy of living individuals.
• She spent months researching before fictionalizing the true crime case.
• Fictionalizing a biography requires balancing accuracy with narrative appeal.