diary

noun

di·​a·​ry ˈdī-(ə-)rē 

plural diaries

1

: a record of events, transactions, or observations kept daily or at frequent intervals : journal

especially : a daily record of personal activities, reflections, or feelings

2

: a book intended or used for a diary

Synonyms

• daybook
• journal

Examples of diary in a Sentence

has diligently kept a diary since she was 15

Recent Examples on the Web

For an example of one such case, a friend suggests a dive into the diaries of George Templeton Strong, a wealthy nineteenth-century New York City lawyer, and his eyewitness account, from 1863, of the Draft Riots, in Manhattan. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Archaeologists searching for graves find third set of remains with gunshot wound On Thursday, Solomon-Simmons and others encouraged Tulsa residents to turn over any documents, diaries and pictures, or share their or their relatives’ stories related to the massacre. —Omar Jimenez, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024

In 2003, the first year BLS asked Americans to keep time-use diaries, people spent an average of 4 hours 47 minutes a day alone. —Marissa Conrad, Bon Appétit, 16 Oct. 2024

While hiding from the Nazis, the young girl filled the pages of her now-iconic diary. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin diarium, from dies day — more at deity

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diary

• keep a diary

Kids Definition

diary

noun

di·​a·​ry ˈdī-(ə-)rē 

plural diaries

: a daily record especially of personal experiences and thoughts

also : a book for keeping such a record

Etymology

from Latin diarium "a record of business dealings or activities during the day," from dies "day" — related to meridian, sunday see Word History at sunday