diegetic

[dahy-uh-jet-ik]

adjective

1. (of a story) told by a narrator.

   Interspersed throughout the movie are diegetic scenes in which the offscreen present-day protagonist comments—usually scathingly—on the behavior of his former self.

2. happening within or being the created world of a story: In the Marvel cinematic universe, multiple separate superhero films take place within a single diegetic world.

   Diegetic sound—the creaking timbers of a ship at sea, the cries of gulls on the beach—pulls the viewer into the world of the movie.

   In the Marvel cinematic universe, multiple separate superhero films take place within a single diegetic world.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diegetic¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Greek diēgētikόs “(pertaining to a) narrative”

Example Sentences

Tense discussions of life-altering events are matched by the diegetic decibels of smooth jazz or string symphonies.

From Salon

Even committed realists can work within the musical genre, with an entirely diegetic score and a narrative framed around a concert or a performance.

From Los Angeles Times

Anchored by its intricate sound design, which expertly blends score, diegetic sound and the thoughtful use of aural perspective, the series rejects potboiler rhythms in favor of a foreboding psychological chill.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s apparent in “Mean Girls,” which seems lightly embarrassed by any number that can’t be rendered diegetic or discounted as a dream sequence.

From New York Times

The music, in this case, arises not from a conventional score, but rather from the diegetic accompaniments of soup bubbling in a pot, butter sizzling in a pan and utensils scraping against crockery.

From Los Angeles Times