commentary
Americannoun
-
commentaries
plural
-
a series of comments, explanations, or annotations.
a commentary on the Bible; news followed by a commentary.
-
an explanatory essay or treatise.
a commentary on a play; Blackstone's commentaries on law.
-
anything serving to illustrate a point, prompt a realization, or exemplify, especially in the case of something unfortunate.
The dropout rate is a sad commentary on our school system.
-
Usually commentaries. records of facts or events.
Commentaries written by Roman lawyers give us information on how their courts functioned.
noun
-
an explanatory series of notes or comments
-
a spoken accompaniment to a broadcast, film, etc, esp of a sporting event
-
an explanatory essay or treatise on a text
-
(usually plural) a personal record of events or facts
the commentaries of Caesar
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of commentary
1375–1425; late Middle English commentaries (plural) < Latin commentārium notebook, noun use of neuter of commentārius, equivalent to comment ( um ) comment + -ārius -ary
Explanation
When the language in a work of literature such as "Beowulf" is difficult to understand, it is helpful to read from an edition that includes a commentary — an explanation or expansion or criticism added to the original material. Editorials go hand-in-hand with commentaries, since both express a writer's opinions. Commentary can be oral as well as written. Each year, following the President's State of the Union address, you can tune into the networks for commentary from respected news anchors. In fact, political commentary has become so pervasive in our media that some feel it has replaced reporting.
Vocabulary lists containing commentary
Argumentative Writing, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Journalism
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Awkward
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
“Iranian officials have been promising escalation if diplomacy fails,” InTouch Capital Markets’ analysts’ team says in commentary, citing a media report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Tail hedges remain ridiculously cheap,” said Goldman Sachs’ Rich Privorotsky in commentary obtained by MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
It’s really no surprise that his first film in 10 years would arrive with its thematic commentary just as legible.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Over the weekend, a commentary by state-owned Beijing News warned that cinemas risk "losing the trust" of viewers if they "continue to lower their standard" with additional screenings of Niu Lai.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Once Cora had gleaned what she could from the yellowed pamphlets, she started on the old almanacs, with their projections and ruminations about the tides and stars, and bits of obscure commentary.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
This has echoed across social media and commentaries over the past week, drawing even politicians into the conversation.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
And some advisers produce their own data-driven market commentaries that look ahead at trends, which can affect client portfolios.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 26, 2026
Management commentaries point to continued price pressure, worsened by new supply from China’s offshore facilities, they note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
As good as Teller is as a husband in crisis, the Oscar-winning Randolph is her own commanding source of light, enough to sell this movie’s feel-good abstracts and wry commentaries on her own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
Global news commentaries now became the backdrop in my room.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
