# imaginary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈmæd͡ʒɪnəɹi/ · frequency rank #9,767

## Definitions
1. Existing only in the imagination.
2. Having no real part; that part of a complex number which is a multiple of √ (called imaginary unit).
3. Having no real part; that part of a complex number which is a multiple of √ (called imaginary unit).

## Etymology
From Middle English ymaginarie, ymagynary, from Latin imāginārius (“relating to images, fancied”), from imāgō, equivalent to imagine + -ary.
The mathematical sense derives from René Descartes's use (of the French imaginaire) in 1637, La Geometrie, to ridicule the notion of regarding non-real roots of polynomials as numbers. Although Descartes' usage was derogatory, the designation stuck even after the concept gained acceptance in the 18th century.

## Common misspellings (13)
`iamginary`, `imagginary`, `imagianry`, `imaginarry`, `imaginaryy`, `imaginayr`, `imaginnary`, `imaginray`, `imagniary`, `imaignary`, `imgainary`, `immaginary`, `miaginary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/imaginary