nonfiction

American  

[non-fik-shuhn] / nɒnˈfɪk ʃən /

noun

1. the branch of literature comprising works of narrative prose dealing with or offering opinions or conjectures upon facts and reality, including biography, history, and the essay (opposed to fiction and distinguished from poetry anddrama ).

2. works of this class.

   She had read all of his novels but none of his nonfiction.

3. (especially in cataloging books, as in a library or bookstore) all writing or books not fiction, poetry, or drama, including nonfictive narrative prose and reference works; the broadest category of written works.

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nonfiction British  

/ ˌnɒnˈfɪkʃən /

noun

1. writing dealing with facts and events rather than imaginative narration

2. (modifier) relating to or denoting nonfiction

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Other Word Forms

• nonfictional
  adjective
• nonfictionally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of nonfiction

First recorded in 1905–10; non- + fiction

Explanation

When you read nonfiction, you're reading about something that really happened — it's not a story somebody made up. Prose is divided into the two big categories of fiction and nonfiction, and nonfiction includes all kinds of things — biographies, histories, memoirs, how-to books, self-help, books on business, even books on writing. Narrative nonfiction relates stories that really happened but in a way that draws you in just like fiction does; it tells a true story, but with lots of drama and all the interesting quirks of the characters.

Example Sentences

Nonfiction has always been a big part of Toronto’s identity going back to its very beginnings, which saw the likes of “Harlan County, USA.” and “Roger & Me” playing the festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025

This year, awards organizers launched a companion Women’s Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2024

He was a founding member of the nominations committee and program director for the documentary-focused Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking, which he brought into partnership with Vidiots for a shorts screening series in October.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2023

The book was a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2022

“Fiction books are usually put on the shelf in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. Nonfiction titles are classified according to the Dewey decimal system.”

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein