Meaning & Definition of Documentary in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: A film or program that documents reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record.

  Example Sentence: The documentary about climate change highlighted the urgency of the issue.

• Definition: A written or printed record that provides evidence or information.

  Example Sentence: The documentary evidence gathered helped resolve the dispute.

• Definition: A style of filmmaking that emphasizes factual reporting over dramatization.

  Example Sentence: She prefers watching documentaries over fictional movies.

Etymology

Origin: From the Latin word 'documentum', meaning 'lesson, proof'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• nature documentary: A documentary that focuses on natural history, wildlife, or the environment.
• documentary film: A film that documents actual events or stories.
• docu-series: A television series that presents real-life stories using a documentary format.

Translations

• Spanish: documental

• French: documentaire

• German: Dokumentarfilm

• Russian: документальный фильм

Related Words

• biography: An account of someone's life written by someone else.

• reportage: Reporting of news or current events.

• chronicle: A factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.

Slang Meanings of documentary

• Meaning: Doc

  Example Sentence: Did you watch the new doc on Netflix?

• Meaning: Doco

  Example Sentence: I'm in the mood for a good doco tonight.