anecdote
Americannoun
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anecdotes,
plural
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anecdota
plural
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a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.
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a short, obscure historical or biographical account.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of anecdote
First recorded in 1670–80; from New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes, from Late Greek, Greek anékdota “things unpublished” (referring particularly to Procopius's unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an- an- 1 + ékdotos “given out,” adjective derivative of ekdidónai “to give out, publish” ( ek- ec- + didónai “to give”)
Compare meaning
How does anecdote compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A short, amusing true story is an anecdote. You might come back from a crazy spring break with a lot of anecdotes to tell. The roots of anecdote lie in the Greek word anekdota, meaning "unpublished." The word's original sense in English was "secret or private stories" — tales not fit for print, so to speak. It can still have connotations of unreliability, as in the phrase "anecdotal information." But the most common sense today is that of "a funny story about something that happened."
Vocabulary lists containing anecdote
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Argumentative Writing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Throughout the show, his chosen family is on stage with him, punctuating his stories with songs that give each anecdote an emotional button.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The point is to be wary of argument by anecdote, since the trading database is a big haystack, and journalists are pattern-seeking animals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
One New York Times report made the rounds particularly because of its opening anecdote about the candidate disappearing at a critical juncture because he needed a nap.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
While we’re on the topic of Brin and Lake Tahoe, let me share another early anecdote that illuminates the mindset I’m referring to, and that I wrote about way back in 1999.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026
Shanti delighted the judges with the Parents, what-can-you-do? anecdote about her dad putting out the life-size, blow-up lawn Santa on the Fourth of July.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
Fortunately, Benson has been so diligent in gathering papers and anecdota that he escapes from his own simplifications.
From Time Magazine Archive
Happily, this soon gives way to anecdota and reminiscence.
From Time Magazine Archive
Of such anecdota there are many collections; the earliest was probably L. A. Muratori's, in 1709.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1 by Various
"When you dive into the Iliad, you really understand that Homer was an Anatolian. You find anecdotes and cultural references that are completely unknown elsewhere," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
At oral argument, Solicitor General John Sauer could only provide anecdotes about newspaper clippings from China, but admitted that “no one knows” the true number.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Others suggested their vote hinged on the anecdotes of tumor shrinkage presented by experts and patients who spoke during the meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
He shot pool now and then at the Playboy Mansion, collected guns, dyed his white hair jet-black and trundled out anecdotes of Old Hollywood over three-hour lunches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
“In all gatherings he at once became the center of attraction, having a ready command of language and a constant fund of amusing anecdotes and experiences.”
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
