unreliable narrator
/ʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl nəˈreɪtər/
CommonA storyteller whose account of events cannot be fully trusted, either because they are lying, self-deceived, or simply do not know the full truth.
Recognized as a deliberate literary technique. When used well, the gap between what the narrator says and what is actually happening creates tension or reveals character. Online, it is also used to describe real people telling self-serving stories.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | the whole book hits different once you realize she's an unreliable narrator from chapter one | Rereading reveals the narrator was hiding or distorting information all along. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 02 | her whole story about what happened sounds like an unreliable narrator situation. the timeline doesn't add up | The person telling the story seems to be leaving things out or reshaping events to favor themselves. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | one of the best unreliable narrators in recent tv. you think you know what happened for six episodes and then the show pulls the rug | Praising a show's execution of the technique where the narrator's account is later revealed to be wrong. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | is he an unreliable narrator or is the show just badly written. genuinely cannot tell | Uncertainty about whether confusing storytelling is intentional technique or poor execution. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- A story's narrator is lying, self-deceived, or limited in what they can perceive.
- You realize the story is designed for you to doubt the narrator's account.
- Pointing out that a real person is telling a one-sided or self-serving version of events.
- Discussing a book or show where the twist involves learning the narrator was wrong.
Do not use it when
- You just mean the narrator has a limited perspective or point of view, not that they are actually wrong.
- You mean a plot hole or a storytelling mistake.Use “plot-hole” instead.
Origin and context
Literary criticism term coined by Wayne C. Booth in his 1961 work The Rhetoric of Fiction. Entered mainstream online conversation through book communities, then spread to film and TV discussions.
- First seen
- 1961
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/unreliable-narratorUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0