documentation
Americannoun
-
the use of documentary evidence.
-
a furnishing with documents, as to substantiate a claim or the data in a book or article.
-
Computers. manuals, listings, diagrams, and other hard- or soft-copy written and graphic materials that describe the use, operation, maintenance, or design of software or hardware.
The documentation for the driver program is displayed on the screen.
noun
-
the act of supplying with or using documents or references
-
the documents or references supplied
-
the furnishing and use of documentary evidence, as in a court of law
-
computing the written comments, graphical illustrations, flowcharts, manuals, etc, supplied with a program or software system
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of documentation
Explanation
Your driver's license is documentation of your age, address, and that you have passed the tests required to drive a car. Documentation is certifiable proof, or a set of official documents. Your new computer probably came with a packet of documentation that shows you how to use it and explains what to do when it breaks. In this sense, documentation means the official documents of your computer. If you are the person preparing a packet of information about how to use a computer program to keep attendance at school, you are preparing the documentation of that process.
Vocabulary lists containing documentation
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!
Reference
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!
Writing - High School
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.
Ultimately, video and audio documentation is expected to be preserved in the State Archives.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
Official documentation hardly ever matches the reality of how work is actually done.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
Millan’s organization asked her for documentation, including five character references; for another fee, it would submit these up the line.
From Salon • May 2, 2026
There’s also documentation that shows Musk himself, at various points, entertained for-profit structures.
From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026
It will know how to work because it will be able to read documentation describing it down to the last transistor.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
Definitions 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.
