verbatim
Americanadverb
adjective
-
corresponding word for word to the original source or text.
a verbatim record of the proceedings.
-
skilled at recording or noting down speeches, proceedings, etc., with word-for-word accuracy.
a verbatim stenographer.
adverb
Etymology
Origin of verbatim
First recorded in 1475–85; from Medieval Latin verbātim, from verb(um) “word” + -ātim, adverb suffix
Explanation
Repeat something you've read or heard precisely word-for-word, and you have just quoted it verbatim. That's great if what you deliver verbatim is the directions on how to defuse a bomb, but not a good idea if you're cheating on a test and copying someone's answer verbatim. As a word, verbatim is powerful for its precision. When you can say that you are repeating someone's words verbatim, it means every single word is exactly what was said. If you write something down verbatim, you can rely on it being a duplicate of the original document, recreated. Repeating words verbatim in your own writing can be tricky business. Without attributing the original author, verbatim can be the damning evidence of plagiarism.
Vocabulary lists containing verbatim
Foreign Words and Phrases Commonly Used in English, List 1
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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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.
The coffee was years ago now, and I couldn’t reproduce most of the messages verbatim.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
They are recorded verbatim by a court reporter, and the transcripts can later be used as evidence during trials.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
The very first thing I saw there was an anime-style vertical video whose characters barely moved their lips and ended the whole thing with a verbatim “To Be Continue .. ” title card.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026
“As a technical matter, the services of a court reporter are not necessary to create an accurate and reliable verbatim record of trial court proceedings,” Guerrero ruled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
I could reproduce all of it here verbatim, but it isn’t necessary.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
