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

People are beside themselves with some mix of confusion and rage because stocks are barely down,” Donnelly said in written commentary.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

"Good main chutes!" the Nasa commentary enthused repeatedly, until the capsule hit the ocean for a perfect splashdown.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

It’s an added shading, an honest commentary, that feels right, as if it were there all along in the DNA of this well-traveled tale of existential concern, just waiting to be uncovered.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

In commentary accompanying that decision, the central bank said events in the Middle East have materially altered the outlook and the balance of risks for inflation and economic growth in New Zealand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

There are two characteristic forms that natural philosophy takes in the Middle Ages: one is the commentary on Aristotle; the other is the collection of quaestiones, of problems to which there is no agreed solution.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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