dossier

[dos-ee-ey, -ee-er, daw-see-ey, -see-er, daw-syey]

noun

plural

dossiers 

1. a collection or file of documents on the same subject, especially a complete file containing detailed information about a person or topic.

   Synonyms: folder, report, record

dossier

/ ˈdɒsɪˌeɪ, dosje, -sɪə /

noun

1. a collection of papers containing information on a particular subject or person

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossier¹

1875–80; < French: bundle of documents with a label attached to the back or spine, equivalent to dos (< Latin dorsum ) back + -ier -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossier¹

C19: from French: a file with a label on the back, from dos back, from Latin dorsum

Example Sentences

The Commission is also examining disclosures made by Lord Alderdice in a dossier outlining concerns about alleged abuses of power within the church.

Read more on BBC

Links fashioned “crime dossiers” that combined written clues with pieces of physical evidence—pills and cigarette butts, among other items—to produce an immersive experience for readers and game-players.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This dossier was then leaked to U.K. newspaper the Daily Telegraph, which published excerpts over the past week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Public prosecutor Damien Brunet recommended that Sarkozy's request for release be granted, but that the former president be banned from contacting other witnesses in the so-called "Libyan dossier".

Read more on BBC

Pressure on the broadcaster’s top executives has been growing since the Daily Telegraph newspaper published parts of a dossier complied by Michael Prescott, who had been hired to advise the BBC on standards and guidelines.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• summary 

When To Use

What does dossier mean?

A dossier is a collection of detailed information about a person or other subject.The word dossier is popularly associated with espionage, law enforcement, and politics. When used in these contexts, it often refers to a file that includes all the “dirt” on someone (such as secret negative information that could be used to blackmail them).Example: We’ve been tracking this guy for years—we have a 2,000-page dossier on him.