diary
Americannoun
-
diaries
plural
-
a daily record, usually private, especially of the writer's own experiences, observations, feelings, attitudes, etc.
-
a book for keeping such a record.
-
a book or pad containing pages marked and arranged in calendar order, in which to note appointments and the like.
noun
-
a personal record of daily events, appointments, observations, etc
-
a book for keeping such a record
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing diary
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lesson 2–3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Excerpt from "Kira-Kira"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
She says the best way to make a diagnosis is through a food diary or tracking of how often symptoms occur after eating certain foods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
"I am quite shocked at my ability to just lie to everyone," the Love Island host said in the castle's diary room.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Through reading her mother’s diary entries, Tomlinson began to heal from the impossible standards she set for herself to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
"Maybe it was my fate to walk in with no legs," she told the diary room.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
You know, I think my speling is a lot better now than it was when I started this diary.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
After Clara died in 1896, her eldest daughter, Marie, purged even more, sharing only limited selections of Clara’s diaries with Clara’s biographer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Liu attracted followers on Chinese social media where he posted religious discussions, video diaries, and clips of himself singing.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Anthony Fauci’s diaries tell us what we already knew: Behind every public official’s confident assertions is a fallible human being.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
The doctor’s recently released Covid-era diaries are only a fraction of the material now in congressional investigators’ hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
No letters, diaries, or interviews with newspapers to offer any clues.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
