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First recorded in 1670–80; from New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes, from Late Greek, Greek anékdota “things unpublished” (referring particularly to Procopius's unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an- an- ¹ + ékdotos “given out,” adjective derivative of ekdidónai “to give out,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C17: from Medieval Latin anecdota unpublished items, from Greek anekdotos unpublished, from _an- + ekdotos published, from ekdidonai, from ek- out + didonai to give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

But it was a tour bus anecdote in his autobiography.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said: "To have people on the inside who smile to our faces, sit next to us at meetings, share jokes, anecdotes, before stabbing us in the back is very sad indeed."

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“Data is not the plural of anecdote,” as any statistician will tell you.

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Corporate earnings calls provide a mixed picture similar to the Fed’s Beige Book, the compendium of anecdotes from the 12 district banks prepared for the Oct. 28-29 Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Boockvar says.

Read more on Barron's

As played by Hawke, Hart adores holding court, entertaining his captive audience with witty put-downs and gossipy Broadway anecdotes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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