diary

[dahy-uh-ree]

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

/ ˈdaɪərɪ /

noun

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

2. a book for keeping such a record

Word History and Origins

Origin of diary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of diary¹

C16: from Latin diārium daily allocation of food or money, journal, from diēs day

Example Sentences

For “Liberty’s Dawn: A People’s History of the Industrial Revolution,” Emma Griffin studied hundreds of diaries kept by English workers during the period.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Days after his release, Sarkozy's team announced the former president was writing a book about his three weeks in jail, titled "A prisoner's diary".

Read more on BBC

“Daily Memo” has become the diary Los Angeles never asked for but which is now indispensable, documenting in real time one of the most terrifying chapters in the region’s history.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Green’s Dictionary of Slang cites a 1917 diary entry: “It wasn’t exactly a ‘gravy’ job.”

Read more on Salon

More than 7,000 documents from the time have been made public, including WhatsApp chats and emails, private diaries and confidential files.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• account 
• journal 
• log 
• notebook