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
plural documentaries
: a presentation (such as a film or novel) expressing or dealing with factual events : a documentary presentation
Synonyms
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
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024
Payne is currently in production on — and targeting a 2025 release for — a documentary feature about the trailblazing film scholar Jeanine Basinger, tracing her story from her days as a movie theater usher in Brookings, South Dakota, to Connecticut’s Wesleyan University.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
When Megan’s story started to crumble, Schulman traveled to Michigan to find the truth, with a documentary team in tow.
—Maya Salam Maya Salam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024
And through a documentary film project, he’s learned a lot more — and so have the people of Olathe.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Founded in 1955, World Press Photo is a nonprofit that has been recognizing talented photojournalists and documentary photographers for nearly 70 years.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2009, Taylor earned an Oscar nomination for best documentary short film for The Final Inch, which chronicled the fight to eradicate polio.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Award-winning country star Lainey Wilson will be the subject of a documentary special being produced by Robin Roberts‘ production unit at ABC News Studios, to be seen on Hulu, with a premiere date set for May 29.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Scottish composer Erland Cooper’s soaring score for the documentary hints at the end of the trailer that Billy and Molly have to part ways as the noble otter is seen to freely swim again in wild nature.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
Films featuring Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega and music documentaries about the changing country scene and singer-songwriter Linda Perry will all premiere this spring at Tribeca Film Festival.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2024
The program includes 261 films representing 84 countries and regions, including 92 features, 47 documentaries, five archival features, two special tributes, two secret screenings and 115 short films.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Natalia Grace:Barnett case sparks new media buzz, documentaries.
—The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Eleanor, in turn, directed a documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now titled Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, which follows Francis during the famously fraught production of his Vietnam War epic.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
The veteran comedian and legendary quick-on-his-feet improvisor was atypically dumbstruck recently when his Only Murders in the Building co-star Selena Gomez showed up to fete him on the red carpet premiere of his Apple TV+ two-part documentary, Steve!
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Even with all the reviews and with big-name producers including Colin Firth and Jamie Foxx backing the project, no distributor has picked up the documentary for mainstream release.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 14 Apr. 2024
In 2016, Wade’s work was covered in The Art of Organized Noize, a documentary about the production trio that features interviews with Andre 3000, Big Boi, Future, Ludacris, 2 Chainz, and more.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2024
Adjective
This lawsuit filed by the students in Washington, D.C., claims that school administration prevented the club from showing a documentary film during lunch called The Occupation of the American Mind that's critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024
Payne is currently in production on — and targeting a 2025 release for — a documentary feature about the trailblazing film scholar Jeanine Basinger, tracing her story from her days as a movie theater usher in Brookings, South Dakota, to Connecticut’s Wesleyan University.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
When Megan’s story started to crumble, Schulman traveled to Michigan to find the truth, with a documentary team in tow.
—Maya Salam Maya Salam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024
And through a documentary film project, he’s learned a lot more — and so have the people of Olathe.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Founded in 1955, World Press Photo is a nonprofit that has been recognizing talented photojournalists and documentary photographers for nearly 70 years.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2009, Taylor earned an Oscar nomination for best documentary short film for The Final Inch, which chronicled the fight to eradicate polio.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Award-winning country star Lainey Wilson will be the subject of a documentary special being produced by Robin Roberts‘ production unit at ABC News Studios, to be seen on Hulu, with a premiere date set for May 29.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Scottish composer Erland Cooper’s soaring score for the documentary hints at the end of the trailer that Billy and Molly have to part ways as the noble otter is seen to freely swim again in wild nature.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
Arthouse streamer Mubi has picked up worldwide rights for Witches, the new documentary feature from British director Elizabeth Sankey (Romantic Comedy) and will roll out the movie globally following its world premiere in the Viewpoints section of the Tribeca Festival in June.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
Films featuring Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega and music documentaries about the changing country scene and singer-songwriter Linda Perry will all premiere this spring at Tribeca Film Festival.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2024
The program includes 261 films representing 84 countries and regions, including 92 features, 47 documentaries, five archival features, two special tributes, two secret screenings and 115 short films.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Natalia Grace:Barnett case sparks new media buzz, documentaries.
—The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Eleanor, in turn, directed a documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now titled Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, which follows Francis during the famously fraught production of his Vietnam War epic.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
The veteran comedian and legendary quick-on-his-feet improvisor was atypically dumbstruck recently when his Only Murders in the Building co-star Selena Gomez showed up to fete him on the red carpet premiere of his Apple TV+ two-part documentary, Steve!
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Even with all the reviews and with big-name producers including Colin Firth and Jamie Foxx backing the project, no distributor has picked up the documentary for mainstream release.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 14 Apr. 2024
In 2016, Wade’s work was covered in The Art of Organized Noize, a documentary about the production trio that features interviews with Andre 3000, Big Boi, Future, Ludacris, 2 Chainz, and more.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'documentary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near documentary
Cite this Entry
“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/documentary. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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