narrative

American  

[nar-uh-tiv] / ˈnær ə tɪv /

noun

• narratives
  plural

1. a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

   Synonyms:

   tale, chronicle

2. a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.

3. the art, technique, or process of narrating, or of telling a story.

   Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.

4. a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis.

   to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity; the narrative that our public schools are failing.

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adjective

1. consisting of or being a narrative.

   a narrative poem.

2. of or relating to narration, or the telling of a story.

   My English teacher's narrative skill makes characters seem to come to life.

3. Fine Arts. representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally.

   narrative painting.

narrative British  

/ ˈnærətɪv /

noun

1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc

2. the part of a literary work that relates events

3. the process or technique of narrating

---

adjective

1. telling a story

   a narrative poem

2. of or relating to narration

   narrative art

Synonym Usage

Narrative, account, recital, history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonnarrative
  adjective
• seminarrative
  adjective
• narratively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• narratives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of narrative

First recorded in 1445–55; from Middle French narratif (adjective and noun), from Late Latin narrātīvus “narration” (noun), “suitable for narration” (adjective), from narrāt(us) “related, told” (past participle of narrāre “to relate, tell, say”) + -īvus, adjective suffix; equivalent to narrate ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )

Explanation

A narrative is a story that you write or tell to someone, usually in great detail. A narrative can be a work of poetry or prose, or even song, theater, or dance. Often a narrative is meant to include the "whole story." A summary will give a few key details and then the narrative will delve into the details. "I hate to interrupt your narrative," is a polite way of stopping someone in the middle of a story. The origin of this noun is the Latin adjective narrativus, from narrare "to tell," from gnarus "knowing." It is related to our English verb know.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

narrative narratives

The telecom cycle creates a compelling narrative arc, with a rise, fall and ultimate redemption led by the smartphone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

“There’s nothing like attractive real yields and a whiff of slower growth to shift the narrative and spur a renewed bid into rates,” said Melson at Natixis.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

The “It Follows” escape plan is, as it happens, a window into Kelly’s celebrated talent for taking a narrative formula and turning it on its head, often with a sinister edge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Tibetans in the region can be detained or arrested for speaking to journalists or posting anything online that is seen as contrary to the government narrative, according to rights activists.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

“Mr. Gibbon,” he announced, and held up the first volume of Mr. Edward Gibbon’s masterpiece of historical narrative, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Recently, the bureau announced it would no longer include narratives in consumer complaints that appear in the CFPB’s public database.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

Luria said that Microsoft has now countered the negative narratives that were plaguing its stock earlier this year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

"No artist should face criminal punishment for creating work that challenges official narratives or encourages critical reflection on history," Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks said on Tuesday.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

My years as a politician and a diplomat have taught me to distrust tidy narratives about our region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Today they speak back, as individuals and as sovereign nations, against ongoing trauma and the consequences of conquest and terminal narratives.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Related Words

• account
• anecdote
• book
• chronicle
• chronology
• description
• detail
• fiction
• history
• narration
• plot
• version