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 (fiction and 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

Example Sentences

“The ones back there are children’s and young adult books. Fiction, nonfiction, novels and poetry, comics and graphic novels. Anything that I think you folks might enjoy.”

From Literature

This upcoming book is a collection of essays, speeches and creative nonfiction.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2015, Packer adapted “Women of Will” into a nonfiction book.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other novels have come before — Joyce Carol Oates’ memorable if wildly fictionalized “Blonde,” for example — not to mention the avalanche of nonfiction that has been written since Marilyn burst onto the scene.

From Los Angeles Times

At Brown, he also wrote and edited for multiple campus newspapers and founded a creative nonfiction publication called Sole Magazine.

From The Wall Street Journal