narrative

[nar-uh-tiv]

noun

1. a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

   Synonyms: tale, chronicle

2. a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.

3. the art, technique, or process of narrating, or of telling a story.

   Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.

4. a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis.

   to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity; the narrative that our public schools are failing.

adjective

1. consisting of or being a narrative.

   a narrative poem.

2. of or relating to narration, or the telling of a story.

   My English teacher's narrative skill makes characters seem to come to life.

3. Fine Arts.,  representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally.

   narrative painting.

narrative

/ ˈnærətɪv /

noun

1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc

2. the part of a literary work that relates events

3. the process or technique of narrating

adjective

1. telling a story

   a narrative poem

2. of or relating to narration

   narrative art

Other Word Forms

• narratively adverb
• nonnarrative adjective
• seminarrative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of narrative¹

First recorded in 1445–55; from Middle French narratif (adjective and noun), from Late Latin narrātīvus “narration” (noun), “suitable for narration” (adjective), from narrāt(us) “related, told” (past participle of narrāre “to relate, tell, say”) + -īvus, adjective suffix; equivalent to narrate ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )

Synonym Study

Narrative, account, recital, history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.

Example Sentences

“This shows how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats by social media,” he wrote on Instagram.

Read more on Salon

Parental erasure also serves to appropriate the real world stories of queer people, inverting them into a bizarre right-wing narrative.

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However, as Warwas explored the two-bedroom home and corner property — the designer had previously designed and built a wood deck in Puleo’s backyard — he began to envision a new narrative for the spaces.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The act shifts the public narrative of ICE from scary and powerful to laughable and weak,” he added.

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“There’s a false and extremely dangerous narrative being peddled,” Wiener said in an August news conference.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account 
• anecdote 
• book 
• chronicle 
• chronology 
• description 
• detail 
• fiction 
• history 
• narration 
• plot 
• version