nonfiction
Americannoun
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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 ).
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works of this class.
She had read all of his novels but none of his nonfiction.
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(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.
noun
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writing dealing with facts and events rather than imaginative narration
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(modifier) relating to or denoting nonfiction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nonfiction
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.
Vocabulary lists containing nonfiction
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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National Librarian Day
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Literary Terms, Grade 8, Unit 1
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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.
Nonfiction titles about politics and other topics often aimed at men are losing readership and sales.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
Nonfiction book sales have been in decline for the past four years, and are now the most challenged segment of the print book market.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
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
The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction hopes to change that.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024
“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
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.
