Late start is a fabrication at home (5)
I believe the answer is:
liein
'late start' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.
'fabrication at home' is the wordplay.
'fabrication' becomes 'lie' (a lie is an invention or fabrication).
'at home' becomes 'in' ('I'm in' can mean 'I'm at home').
'lie'+'in'='LIEIN'
'is a' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for liein that I've seen before include "be dormant" , "Prolonged bedtime" , "Prolonged rest" .)