make-believe

• makebelieve, make believe

Deverbal from make believe.

make-believe (countable and uncountable, plural make-believes) (sometimes childish)

1. (uncountable) The quality or act of pretending; acting as if something is true when in fact one knows it is not.
   • 1985, “The Lady Don't Mind”, in Little Creatures, performed by Talking Heads:

     Come on, come on, I go up and down / I like this curious feeling / I know, I see, it's like make believe / Cover your ears so you can hear what I'm saying

2. (uncountable) The condition of pretending or imagining that things are better than they really are.
3. (countable) Something imaginary.
   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marjorie Lindon, to even think such nonsense. Are you all nerves and morbid imaginings,—you who have prided yourself on being so strong-minded! A pretty sort you are to do battle for anyone.—Why, they’re only make-believes!’