semi-autobiographical
adjective
semi-au·to·bio·graph·i·cal
ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˌbī-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
variants
or less commonly semiautobiographical
: partly autobiography and partly fiction : being a fictionalized account of the author's life
a semi-autobiographical novel/film
… James Herriott's semiautobiographical story of his return from WWII to family and friends.—
TV Guide
TV GuideThe play is a convincing picture of a brief but powerful relationship, based on Owen's copious letters and the semi-autobiographical account of Sassoon's George Sherston.—Simon Berry
Simon BerryPedro Almodóvar's most recent drama is one of his most personal: a semi-autobiographical study of an aging, isolated filmmaker who reconnects with an estranged colleague … and starts reassessing his own life.—Norman Wilner
Norman WilnerIn this semiautobiographical take on her own life, [Pamela] Adlon plays "Sam," a working actress and single parent in Los Angeles.—Kit Steinkellner
Kit Steinkellner
also
: of, relating to, or in the style of a semi-autobiographical work
a semi-autobiographical protagonist/character/role
Through semiautobiographical storytelling, Jenna Dawn Maclellan's project will address the challenges of daily life in the North … —The Sudbury Star
The Sudbury Star The acclaimed artist … is known for the semi-autobiographical nature of his work, which riffs on his own youth in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam. —Guy Dixon
Guy Dixon Is this all meant to be a semi-autobiographical comment on what fame does to relationships, since [Darren] Aronofsky and [Jennifer] Lawrence are an item in real life? —Ryan Lambie
Ryan Lambie Examples of semi-autobiographical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1984, after 10 seasons of the 19th-century period western series — a semi-autobiographical look at Laura Ingalls Wilder's life based on her books — the Ingalls family's story culminated in Little House: The Last Farewell.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
At the heart of Mo, a semi-autobiographical Netflix dramedy from co-creator and star Mo Amer, is the tension between Mo the regular guy and Mo the stateless survivor, a man of estimable charms and abilities who is legally prohibited from establishing a legitimate career.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025
Hell's Kitchen, a semi-autobiographical musical about her life growing up in Manhattan, premiered Off Broadway in 2023, transferred to Broadway the following year, and won Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical (Maleah Joi Moon) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Kecia Lewis).
—Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Four decades after the television adaptation of Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical book series Little House on the Prairie captured the hearts of audiences, the author’s tales of early life in 1870s Minnesota are coming back to the screen.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2025
Ross, a former child actor himself, is an engaging reader of what must be a semi-autobiographical roman à clef.
$24 at Amazon
Read by: Marin Ireland and others
Length: 9 hrs, 52 mins.
—Marshall Heyman, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
In Steven Spielberg’s 2022 semi-autobiographical film, Lynch appears toward the end of the movie as another legendary filmmaker, John Ford, who is visited by an aspiring young filmmaker.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
As a reminder, the semi-autobiographical sitcom was inspired by Chris Rock’s life and also starred Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
John Herbert, a Canadian playwright, had made a semi-autobiographical work about his gayness and his experience in prison—two confinements.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2024
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Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
At the heart of Mo, a semi-autobiographical Netflix dramedy from co-creator and star Mo Amer, is the tension between Mo the regular guy and Mo the stateless survivor, a man of estimable charms and abilities who is legally prohibited from establishing a legitimate career.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025
Hell's Kitchen, a semi-autobiographical musical about her life growing up in Manhattan, premiered Off Broadway in 2023, transferred to Broadway the following year, and won Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical (Maleah Joi Moon) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Kecia Lewis).
—Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Four decades after the television adaptation of Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical book series Little House on the Prairie captured the hearts of audiences, the author’s tales of early life in 1870s Minnesota are coming back to the screen.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2025
Ross, a former child actor himself, is an engaging reader of what must be a semi-autobiographical roman à clef.
$24 at Amazon
Read by: Marin Ireland and others
Length: 9 hrs, 52 mins.
—Marshall Heyman, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
In Steven Spielberg’s 2022 semi-autobiographical film, Lynch appears toward the end of the movie as another legendary filmmaker, John Ford, who is visited by an aspiring young filmmaker.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
As a reminder, the semi-autobiographical sitcom was inspired by Chris Rock’s life and also starred Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
John Herbert, a Canadian playwright, had made a semi-autobiographical work about his gayness and his experience in prison—two confinements.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near semi-autobiographical
Cite this Entry
“Semi-autobiographical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semi-autobiographical. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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