hagiography
Americannoun
plural
hagiographies-
the writing and critical study of the lives of the saints; hagiology.
-
a biography that treats the person with excessive or undue admiration.
noun
-
the writing of the lives of the saints
-
biography of the saints
-
any biography that idealizes or idolizes its subject
Other Word Forms
- hagiographic adjective
- hagiographical adjective
Etymology
Origin of hagiography
Explanation
A hagiography is a type of biography that puts the subject in a very flattering light. Hagiographies are often about saints. The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy people. Originally, a hagiography was a biography of a saint written without skepticism or criticism. A hagiography idealizes the subject and puts them on a pedestal. These days, a hagiography is not necessarily written about a saint, but it still idolizes the subject. A hagiography makes the subject seem like a hero, or at least a wonderful, nearly perfect person.
Vocabulary lists containing hagiography
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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.
As beautiful as this book is, worthy of the finest coffee table, it would be a mistake to call it a hagiography.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
It is an exhausting hagiography of yet another man who had an affair while in office.
From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026
It is not a hagiography but a raw account of a mother-daughter bond she calls "a respectful relationship between two nuclear powers. Which is OK, keep it cool".
From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025
It was important to me not to make a hagiography.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2025
Among the many peculiarities for which Brittany is noteworthy, its local hagiography is assuredly the most remarkable.
From Recollections of My Youth by Renan, Ernest
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.
