documentary

1 of 2

adjective

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​ry ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē 

-ˈmen-trē,

-kyü-

1

: being or consisting of documents : contained or certified in writing

documentary evidence

2

: of, relating to, or employing documentation (see documentation sense 2) in literature or art

broadly : factual, objective

a documentary film of the war

documentarily

ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈter-ə-lē 

-ˌmen-

-kyü-

adverb

documentary

2 of 2

noun

plural documentaries

: a presentation (such as a film or novel) expressing or dealing with factual events : a documentary presentation

Synonyms

Adjective

• factual
• hard
• historical
• literal
• matter-of-fact
• nonfictional
• objective
• true

Examples of documentary in a Sentence

Adjective

You must present documentary proof of your residence.

a documentary film about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

Noun

We watched a documentary on the early history of jazz.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Her story unfolds in a series of flashbacks and interviews with a documentary crew as the American-Greek soprano reflects on her critics, romances and art. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

There are images of Shostakovich, Hitler, and clips that include documentary footage of an infamous 1939 pro-Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden (and its interruption by a young man outraged by the antisemitism on display). —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

Some of the still photos from the show appear for the first time in the documentary, says Cutler, who mined John’s archives. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

The 20 best cult documentaries and docuseries, ranked The raid In April 2013, envelopes containing threatening letters laced with ricin, a highly potent toxin derived from castor beans, were sent to President Barack Obama, Judge Sadie Holland, and Senator Roger Wicker, another enemy of Curtis's. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see document entry 1

Noun

see document entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

documentary

1 of 2 adjective

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​ry ˌdäk-yə-ˈment-ə-rē 

-ˈmen-trē

1

: consisting of documents

also : being in writing

documentary proof

2

: presenting actual events or facts about something

a documentary film

documentarily

-mən-ˈter-ə-lē 

-ˌmen-

adverb

documentary

2 of 2 noun

plural documentaries

: a documentary presentation (as a film or novel)

Legal Definition

documentary

adjective

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​ry ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē 

: being, consisting of, or contained in documents

documentary evidence