anecdote

[ an-ik-doht ]

/ ˈæn ɪkˌdoʊt /

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See synonyms for: anecdote / anecdotes on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural an·ec·dotes or, for 2, an·ec·do·ta

[an-ik-doh-tuh]. /ˌæn ɪkˈdoʊ tə/.

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

a short, obscure historical or biographical account.

OTHER WORDS FOR anecdote

story, yarn, reminiscence.

See synonyms for anecdote on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of anecdote

1670–80; <New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes<Late Greek, Greek anékdota things unpublished (referring especially to Procopius' unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an-an-¹ + ékdotos given out, verbal adjective of ekdidónai to give out, publish (ek-ec- + didónai to give)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH anecdote

anecdote , antedate, antidote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use anecdote in a sentence

She writes of political passion dispassionately, with well-tempered anecdotes and salient facts.
Four presidents who put Virginia’s stamp on early America|Andrew Burstein|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
If many anecdotes lack originality, they are still good stories, enhanced by an audiobook’s power to give listeners the immediacy of voices.
Familiar Fauci anecdotes, told with a Brooklyn accent|Amy Goldstein|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
End with a brief anecdote or recollection about the deceased that shows him in a good light, and of which the widow may not have been aware.
Miss Manners: Groom’s mother wants to contribute more than money to the wedding|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
Never mind that the numbers of votes involved are insignificant or that such anecdotes would count for little in the courts or legislatures where a contested outcome would be decided.
Facts aren’t the most powerful tool in the event of a contested election|Geoffrey Colvin|October 13, 2020|Fortune

The research, conducted by two economists at UK universities, suggests this phenomenon is more than just anecdote.
Do countries with female leaders truly fare better with Covid-19?|Alexandra Ossola|July 9, 2020|Quartz
The plot was a string of anecdotes from the senseless shootings of friends that Brinsley knew.
Alleged Cop Killer’s Blood-Soaked Screenplay|M.L. Nestel|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was always time in our work sessions for stories and anecdotes.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He's dazzling, fielding questions, spinning out anecdotes and limericks, sounding 35 and hungry for publicity.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The anecdotes all reveal something uncomfortably schizophrenic about our world…but even so: what has gotten into this woman?
The Very Rich Should Divorce Very Quietly|Vicky Ward|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These deeply intimate anecdotes are what make Transmormon so moving.
Thank God! To the Church, This Transgender Woman Is Just a Skank|Emily Shire|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He likes to have plenty of time to express all his ideas and tell you a good many anecdotes in between!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
They consisted of travels, reflections, plans of literary works, and personal anecdotes.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
Scotland is perhaps the only country whose anecdotes alone would suffice to give an exact idea of her inhabitants.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
Irish anecdotes are exceedingly droll; but they only tend to show the thoughtless side of the Irish character.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
There are a good many anecdotes afloat about him and his odd way of doing things, before he grew up to manhood.
Mike Marble|Uncle Frank

British Dictionary definitions for anecdote

anecdote

/ (ˈænɪkˌdəʊt) /

noun

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

Derived forms of anecdote

anecdotic, adjectiveanecdotalist or anecdotist, noun

Word Origin for anecdote

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

anecdote

OTHER WORDS FOR anecdote

Origin of anecdote

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH anecdote

Words related to anecdote

How to use anecdote in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for anecdote

Derived forms of anecdote

Word Origin for anecdote