document

American  

[dok-yuh-muhnt, dok-yuh-ment] / ˈdɒk yə mənt, ˈdɒk yəˌmɛnt /

noun

1. a written or printed paper furnishing information or evidence, as a passport, deed, bill of sale, or bill of lading; a legal or official paper.

   You'll need documents from your employers and your bank to prepare your income tax return.

2. any written item, as a book, article, or letter, especially of a factual or informative nature.

   The leaked document proves that the management team knew about the safety issues before the product launch.

3. Digital Technology. a computer data file, especially one with formatted text.

   Luckily, I saved my document right before the power went out.

4. Archaic. evidence; proof.

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verb (used with object)

documents, present (3rd person singular) documented, past participle, past documenting present participle

1. to furnish with documents.

2. to furnish with references, citations, etc., in support of statements made.

   a carefully documented biography.

   Synonyms:

   validate, substantiate, verify, corroborate

3. to support by documentary evidence.

   to document a case.

4. Nautical. to provide (a vessel) with a certificate giving particulars concerning nationality, ownership, tonnage, dimensions, etc.

5. Obsolete. to instruct.

document British  

noun

1. a piece of paper, booklet, etc, providing information, esp of an official or legal nature

2. a piece of text or text and graphics stored in a computer as a file for manipulation by document processing software

3. archaic evidence; proof

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verb

1. to record or report in detail, as in the press, on television, etc

   the trial was well documented by the media

2. to support (statements in a book) with citations, references, etc

3. to support (a claim, etc) with evidence or proof

4. to furnish (a vessel) with official documents specifying its ownership, registration, weight, dimensions, and function

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• documenter
  noun
• nondocumented
  adjective
• well-documented
  adjective
• documentable
  adjective
• redocument
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has documented
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have documented
  perfect
• documenting
  participle
• has been documenting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• documents
  singular 3rd person
• have been documenting
  perfect progressive
• am documenting
  progressive 1st person singular
• are documenting
  progressive
• is documenting
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had documented
  perfect
• had been documenting
  perfect progressive
• were documenting
  progressive plural
• documented
  participle
• was documenting
  progressive singular
• documented
  simple

Future

• will document
  simple
• will have documented
  perfect
• will have been documenting
  perfect progressive
• will be documenting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of document

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin documentum “example (as precedent, warning, etc.),” from doc(ēre) “to teach” + -u- (variant of -i- -i- before labials) + -mentum -ment

Explanation

A document is a piece of paper that contains official information. Don't you wish you had a document saying that the bank owed you $5 million? Document comes from the Latin verb meaning "to teach," so a document instructs you with the information it contains. Legal documents such as contracts contain instructions on how the people signing it will act. Passports, driver’s licenses and birth certificates are all official documents. As a verb, document means "to record in detail," or "offer supporting evidence for." If you call a company to complain about something, make sure to document your phone calls by noting the date you called, who you spoke to and what was said.

Example Sentences

Last month, I visited a Hollywood neighborhood where one frustrated resident hired her housekeeper to document chronic problems related to homelessness, illegal dumping and criminal activity.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Trump’s Truth Social account has increasingly become a collection of posts that document not only political messaging, but also the ways he and his supporters choose to depict him.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

But he allegedly did not document what he did with them and the CIA was unable to locate the bars.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The status gives access to fast-track administrative procedures and support from ministries, according to a document seen by AFP.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Then we are to document which plants and animals live nearby and how they interact with one another and their water source.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• archive
• certificate
• diary
• evidence
• form
• paper
• record
• report
• script
• testimony