commentary

com·men·tary

noun \ˈkä-mən-ˌter-ē, -ˌte-rē\

plural com·men·tar·ies

Definition of COMMENTARY

1

a : an explanatory treatise —usually used in plural

b : a record of events usually written by a participant —usually used in plural

2

a : a systematic series of explanations or interpretations (as of a writing)

b : comment 2

3

a : something that serves for illustration or explanation <the dark, airless apartments and sunless factories … are a sad commentary upon our civilization — H. A. Overstreet>

b : an expression of opinion

Examples of COMMENTARY

1. The television show features political commentary by well-known journalists.
2. The magazine includes humor and social commentary.
3. The book is a commentary on her experiences abroad.
4. I like listening to his social commentaries.
5. He provided commentary during the game.
6. The major television stations provided running commentaries on the election results.

First Known Use of COMMENTARY

15th century

Related to COMMENTARY

Synonyms

analysis, comment, exposition, play-by-play

Related Words

annotation, explication; descant (also discant), note, observation, remark; report, review, write-up

Rhymes with COMMENTARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry