commentary

American  

[kom-uhn-ter-ee] / ˈkɒm ənˌtɛr i /

noun

plural

commentaries

1. a series of comments, explanations, or annotations.

   a commentary on the Bible; news followed by a commentary.

2. an explanatory essay or treatise.

   a commentary on a play; Blackstone's commentaries on law.

3. 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.

4. Usually commentaries. records of facts or events.

   Commentaries written by Roman lawyers give us information on how their courts functioned.

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commentary British  

/ ˌkɒmənˈtɛərɪəl, -trɪ, ˈkɒməntərɪ /

noun

1. an explanatory series of notes or comments

2. a spoken accompaniment to a broadcast, film, etc, esp of a sporting event

3. an explanatory essay or treatise on a text

4. (usually plural) a personal record of events or facts

   the commentaries of Caesar

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Other Word Forms

• commentarial adjective
• supercommentary noun

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.

Example Sentences

When it smoothly moves between the two, it feels like a singular commentary on life’s deceptive banalities.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Although the rise in oil prices seems to have eased, they are still well above pre-Middle East conflict levels, which fuels inflation concerns, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities’ fixed income strategists say in commentary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

A cease-fire deal is a “meaningful deescalation after weeks of active conflict and escalating threats,” Jason Pride, chief of investment strategy and research at Glenmede, said in emailed commentary.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Live text commentary of rounds one and two from 12:30 BST, and rounds three and four from 17:00 BST.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

He pushed an elbow into Slopper’s arm beside him, looking for an ally in his commentary to make it light.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Related Words

• comment
• criticism
• critique
• description
• explanation
• narration
• observation
• remark
• review
• treatise