View synonyms for commentary

commentary

[kom-uhn-ter-ee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

commentaries

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.

commentary

/ ˌkɒmənˈtɛərɪəl, -trɪ, ˈkɒməntərɪ /

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

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Other Word Forms

commentarial adjective
supercommentary noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of commentary¹

1375–1425; late Middle English commentaries (plural) < Latin commentārium notebook, noun use of neuter of commentārius, equivalent to comment ( um ) comment + -ārius -ary

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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.

Fed governor Miran’s public call for clarity is no empty commentary — it highlights the structural risk embedded in today’s world: policy without transparency.

Related Words

commentariat commentate

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