autofiction

American  

[aw-toh-fik-shuhn] / ˈɔ toʊˌfɪk ʃən /

noun

1. a genre of novel or short story whose narrator or protagonist is understood to be the author, and which explores the author’s real-life story using the techniques and devices of fiction.

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Etymology

Origin of autofiction

First recorded in 1975–80; auto- ¹ ( def. ) + fiction ( def. )

Example Sentences

Unlike much contemporary literary fiction, which weighs heavily toward interiority and autofiction, Shriver’s novels are both idea- and plot-driven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

The musician has been careful to clarify that some of the songs are written "in character", saying that the lyrics "could be considered autofiction" - a genre that combines autobiography and fiction.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

In this occasionally saccharine yet blithely comical piece of rich-people-problems autofiction, Clooney is the funniest he’s been in years, taking shots at himself and the life he’s chosen with a marksman’s aim.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2025

Many of you emailed me various thoughts about memoir and autofiction.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2023

Archway’s online editor, Caitlin Forst, based her reading residency NDA on the autofiction anthology she edited last year and has brought out marquee authors like Ottessa Moshfegh, Chris Kraus and Jonathan Ames.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2023