anecdote

[an-ik-doht]

noun

plural

anecdotes, anecdota 

1. a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.

2. a short, obscure historical or biographical account.

anecdote

/ ˈænɪkˌdəʊt /

noun

1. a short usually amusing account of an incident, esp a personal or biographical one

Other Word Forms

• anecdotic adjective
• anecdotalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anecdote¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes, from Late Greek, Greek anékdota “things unpublished” (referring particularly to Procopius's unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an- an- ¹ + ékdotos “given out,” adjective derivative of ekdidónai “to give out, publish” ( ek- ec- + didónai “to give”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of anecdote¹

C17: from Medieval Latin anecdota unpublished items, from Greek anekdotos unpublished, from _an- + ekdotos published, from ekdidonai, from ek- out + didonai to give

Example Sentences

What follows is a chorus of anecdotes, artworks and historical fragments tracing the pervasive — and sometimes perverted — roots of our everyday technologies.

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“A cut is still possible if jobless claims, retail sales, and anecdotes about Black Friday spending show enough weakness, or if the September unemployment rate deteriorates more than we expect.”

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Their mutual generosity is evident in the way Jackman checks in with Hudson after each anecdote during our interview, confirming she has nothing to add or correct.

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Penelope went on in the same jovial spirit, for if one unpleasant episode could be made into an amusing anecdote, why not all of them?

Read more on Literature

The anecdotes that Huet presents are deeply troubling, all the more so because of OneTaste members’ vulnerability and longing for connection and community.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• episode 
• gag 
• narration 
• narrative 
• reminiscence 
• short story 
• sketch 
• tale 
• tall tale 
• yarn