documentary

[ dok-yuh-men-tuh-ree, -tree ]

adjective

1. Also doc·u·men·tal [] pertaining to, consisting of, or derived from documents:

   a documentary history of France.

2. Movies, Television. based on or re-creating an actual event, era, life story, etc., that purports to be factually accurate and contains no fictional elements:

   a documentary life of Gandhi.

noun

, plural doc·u·men·ta·ries.

1. Movies, Television. a documentary film, radio or television program, etc.

documentary

/ -trɪ; ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntərɪ /

adjective

1. Alsodocumental consisting of, derived from, or relating to documents
2. presenting factual material with little or no fictional additions

   the book gives a documentary account of the war

noun

1. a factual film or television programme about an event, person, etc, presenting the facts with little or no fiction

Derived Forms

• ˌdocuˈmentarily, adverb

Other Words From

• docu·men·tari·ly adverb
• nondoc·u·mental adjective
• nondoc·u·menta·ry adjective noun plural nondocumentaries
• predoc·u·menta·ry adjective
• semi·docu·menta·ry adjective noun plural semidocumentaries
• undoc·u·menta·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of documentary¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; document + -ary

Example Sentences

The documentary also follows the fortunes of Consuelo Yznaga, later Duchess of Manchester.

From The Daily Beast

The claim is one of a series of allegations made in a controversial documentary that the BBC has now pulled.

From The Daily Beast

This came across in the Showtime Omit the Logic documentary—in which you were a commentator—and it comes across here.

From The Daily Beast

I was looking to make a documentary, I wanted to change my career, and I knew right away this was it.

From The Daily Beast

She also captured the entire episode in her riveting, award-worthy documentary Citizenfour, which is in theaters now.

From The Daily Beast

There is no documentary evidence to fix the exact date, but it is generally assumed to have been 907.

From Project Gutenberg

The first documentary evidence of the existence of the merchant gild appears in 1242.

From Project Gutenberg

To do this has rendered my history, to a large extent, documentary, instead of being a mere popular narrative.

From Project Gutenberg

Briefly it would be necessary for him to go to London, to secure documentary evidence.

From Project Gutenberg

"My husband is coming from London," she asserted, searching in her reticule for documentary evidence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• broadcast
• feature
• film
• narrative