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

Anderson had earlier last year announced she was taking a "temporary leave of absence", saying that "commentary" was "detracting" from the job.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

“Breadth is a commentary on the Mag Seven, really,” Slimmon told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 19, 2026

“I took all of his commentary to be very, very careful not to disparage any person on the court or elsewhere,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

But by the late ’70s, Cheech & Chong were well-versed in covertly incorporating social commentary into their act.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

And Bagman’s commentary made everything much, much worse.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Related Words

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