What does fibbing mean?
Fibbing refers to the act of telling a fib — a small, trivial lie, typically told to avoid embarrassment, dodge blame, or spare someone's feelings rather than to cause real harm. The word functions as the gerund or verbal noun of the verb 'to fib', and it occupies a deliberately gentle corner of the English vocabulary of dishonesty. Where 'lying' carries weighty moral condemnation, 'fibbing' suggests something almost forgivable: a child claiming to have brushed their teeth, or a guest praising a mediocre dinner. This mildness makes the word useful precisely because it distinguishes venial untruths from serious deception. It is informal in register and common throughout British and American English, appearing frequently in discussions of children's behaviour, social etiquette, and harmless exaggeration. The term traces back to the early seventeenth century, when 'fib' emerged originally as thieves' cant before gradually softening into everyday use.
noun (gerund of the verb fib); also verbal nounThe action of telling a fib: a small, relatively harmless lie, especially one told to avoid embarrassment or trouble rather than to seriously deceive or harm.
- The act of telling a small, trivial lie; untruthfulness of a minor, often excusable kind.
"She admitted that a lifetime of fibbing about her age had finally caught up with her."
"The children were scolded not for breaking the vase but for fibbing about who did it."
"Politicians have turned fibbing into something of an art form, stretching the truth just enough to stay plausible."
'Fib' first appeared in the early 1600s as thieves' cant — criminal slang — before softening into the gentlest way English has of saying someone lied.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fibbing
The verb 'fib' first appears in English in the early seventeenth century, initially recorded as thieves' cant meaning to lie or speak evasively. Its earlier origin is uncertain — some lexicographers connect it to an obsolete sense meaning 'a blow' (as in a punch), suggesting a possible development from striking words, though this link is not firmly established. The gerund form 'fibbing' developed straightforwardly from this verb. It should not be confused with Latin-derived words like 'fable', despite superficial resemblance; any connection is speculative.
Related word forms
How fibbing is actually used
Fibbing carries a distinctly mild, almost affectionate connotation compared to 'lying'; it suggests childish or venial deception rather than serious dishonesty. It is informal and is especially common when describing children's behaviour or social white lies. Using 'fibbing' for significant, harmful deceit can sound euphemistic or even sarcastic.
Easily confused with fibbing
A fibula is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg; despite sharing the 'fib-' letters, it has no connection to telling small lies.
Jiving means dancing or talking nonsense in slang usage, while fibbing specifically means telling small lies.