Where does the word non fiction come from?

The term "nonfiction" is a relatively modern invention, dating back to the early 20th century. It's a combination of two words:

* "Non": This prefix simply means "not".

* "Fiction": This word comes from the Latin word "fictio", meaning "a making, a feigning, a shaping". It refers to something created or imagined, hence the concept of fictional stories.

So, "nonfiction" literally means "not fiction", indicating something that is not imagined or made up, but rather based on real events, people, and facts.