What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
confabulation
Example
We had a nice confabulation over coffee. [confabulation: noun]
Example
He confabulated a story to cover up his mistake. [confabulated: verb]
hallucination
Example
She experienced a hallucination of a ghost in her room. [hallucination: noun]
Example
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which caused him to have frequent hallucinations. [hallucinations: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hallucination is a more common word than confabulation in everyday language. Hallucination is often used to describe mental disorders or drug use, while confabulation is less common and has a more positive connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between confabulation and hallucination?
Confabulation is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, while hallucination is more formal and often used in medical or psychological contexts.