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diary

American  
[dahy-uh-ree] / ˈdaɪ ə ri /

noun

plural

diaries
  1. a daily record, usually private, especially of the writer's own experiences, observations, feelings, attitudes, etc.

    Synonyms:
    chronicle, log, daybook, journal
  2. a book for keeping such a record.

    Synonyms:
    chronicle, log, daybook, journal
  3. a book or pad containing pages marked and arranged in calendar order, in which to note appointments and the like.


diary British  
/ ˈdaɪərɪ /

noun

  1. a personal record of daily events, appointments, observations, etc

  2. a book for keeping such a record

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of diary

1575–85; < Latin diārium daily allowance, journal, equivalent to di ( ēs ) day + -ārium -ary

Explanation

Dear diary, you are a written record of things that happen each day. Some people keep a diary while they’re traveling, others keep their secrets in a diary. Either way, keep out! Some diaries have a pretty cover and a tiny lock with a key, for keeping the contents safe from prying eyes. You can also call such a book a "journal," although traditionally a diary is written in each day, while a journal might have less frequent entries. The word diary comes from the Latin word diarium, "daily allowance," with its root of dies, or "day."

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Vocabulary lists containing diary

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.

Under cross-examination by OpenAI attorney Sarah Eddy, Brockman sought to reframe diary entries that Musk's lawyers had used the previous day to portray him as a calculating opportunist.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

We checked dozens of records and hundreds of spelling variations, gradually narrowing the search using details he had recorded in his diary.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

“The last thing he wrote in his diary was ‘Happiness is only real when shared.’”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The documents range from emails between Musk and Altman to the private diary entries of Brockman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

So I will right rite write in this diary every day until someday I will be able to write and spell the write rite right way.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman