A fib is a small, relatively harmless lie, usually told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to escape minor trouble. When you tell your aunt that you love the itchy sweater she knitted for you, even though you plan never to wear it, that's a fib. When you say you finished your homework when you still have two math problems left, that's also a fib.

Fibs feel different from serious lies because they seem less important. But even small lies can add up and damage trust. If your friend fibs about why they can't come over, and you find out the truth later, you might wonder what else they've fibbed about.

The word often appears in the phrase fibber, meaning someone who tells fibs. Parents might say “Don't fib to me” when they suspect their child isn't being completely truthful. As a verb, fib means to tell a small lie.