documentation

American  

[dok-yuh-men-tey-shuhn, -muhn-] / ˌdɒk yə mɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -mən- /

noun

1. the use of documentary evidence.

2. a furnishing with documents, as to substantiate a claim or the data in a book or article.

3. 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.

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documentation British  

/ ˌdɒkjʊmɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of supplying with or using documents or references

2. the documents or references supplied

3. the furnishing and use of documentary evidence, as in a court of law

4. computing the written comments, graphical illustrations, flowcharts, manuals, etc, supplied with a program or software system

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Other Word Forms

• documentational
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of documentation

First recorded in 1745–55; document + -ation

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.

Example Sentences

The New York settlement would funnel funds into a survivor trust and allow individual compensation to be determined through tiered evaluations, with reported averages varying widely depending on severity and documentation.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

There’s also documentation that shows Musk himself, at various points, entertained for-profit structures.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

Many of those modifications have no documentation and no basis in research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

However, she said that in her role of gathering documents to be published about the appointment "I've not seen any documentation that would formally confirm that level of pressure".

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

We sought to prove to the court that the government’s documentation was often incorrect and that many orders to leave were therefore illegal.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• affidavit
• authentication
• authorization
• certification
• coupon
• credential
• deed
• diploma
• guarantee
• license
• paper
• permit
• receipt
• ticket
• voucher
• warrant
• warranty