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
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
The series is slated on NBC for Sunday at 9 p.m. ET out of documentary series The Americas (and into Grosse Pointe Garden Society, another newbie drama).
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
The feature-length documentary tells how their parents, Maria and Felix, travelled across the Sahara desert to the Spanish enclave of Melilla in north Africa when Maria was pregnant with Inaki (as the elder sibling described to The Athletic in 2022).
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for documentary 
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Adjective
The Guardian Australia reported that his role had been significantly reduced in scope following the appointment of new ABC Chair Kim Williams, who removed his radio and digital responsibilities and reportedly has different ideas about documentary output.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
The series is slated on NBC for Sunday at 9 p.m. ET out of documentary series The Americas (and into Grosse Pointe Garden Society, another newbie drama).
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
Thompson’s life transformed post-Oscars and making this documentary sparked some self-reflection.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
The feature-length documentary tells how their parents, Maria and Felix, travelled across the Sahara desert to the Spanish enclave of Melilla in north Africa when Maria was pregnant with Inaki (as the elder sibling described to The Athletic in 2022).
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for documentary
Dictionary Entries Near documentary
Cite this Entry
“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/documentary. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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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