Definition of "fictitious" []

• Of, relating to, or characterized by fiction; imaginary. (adjective)
• Accepted or assumed for the sake of convention: a fictitious belief. (adjective)
• Adopted or assumed in order to deceive: a fictitious name. (adjective)
• Not genuinely believed or felt; sham: greeted me with a fictitious enthusiasm. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Mr. Picard seeks to recover nearly $300 million in what he calls "fictitious profits" and about $700 million in principal that he says Messrs."
• "In addition to $300 million in what he called "fictitious profits," the trustee is seeking return of their principal invested with Madoff."
• "He had termed the men "net winners" - Picard charged that over their years of investing they had taken out more money than they had invested with Madoff - and was seeking $300 million in what he called "fictitious profits.""