roman à clef

American  

[raw-mah na kle] / rɔ mɑ na ˈklɛ /

noun

French.

plural

romans à clef

1. a novel that represents historical events and characters under the guise of fiction.

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roman à clef British  

/ rɔmɑ̃ a kle /

noun

1. a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names

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roman à clef Cultural  

1. A novel in which actual people and places are disguised as fictional characters. Roman à clef is French for “novel with a key.”

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Etymology

Origin of roman à clef

First recorded in 1880–85; literally “novel with a key,” the key being the connection between the fictional and nonfictional elements of the novel

Example Sentences

After all, her next book is a roman à clef about Gala, and writing about a woman who might be in dire straits would be exploitative.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

The story quoted a few skeptics—among them the writer Harry Monaghan, who’d written a well-received roman à clef five years prior, and who had a regular column in the Post.

From Slate • May 27, 2023

Anderson has written, publishing four novels, including "Star," a roman à clef, and three autobiographies — a much larger backlist than the average model/actor.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2023

“State of Terror,” written with best-selling crime writer Louise Penny, is part entertainment, part roman à clef and all payback.

From Washington Post • Oct. 8, 2021

On the technical development of the modern novel the roman à clef can hardly have exercised a strong influence.

From The Life and Romances of Mrs. Eliza Haywood by Whicher, George Frisbie