semi-autobiographical

adjective

semi-au·​to·​bio·​graph·​i·​cal ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˌbī-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

ˌse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

variants or less commonly semiautobiographical

: partly autobiography and partly fiction : being a fictionalized account of the author's life

a semi-autobiographical novel/film

… James Herriott's semiautobiographical story of his return from WWII to family and friends.

—TV Guide

The play is a convincing picture of a brief but powerful relationship, based on Owen's copious letters and the semi-autobiographical account of Sassoon's George Sherston.

—Simon Berry

Pedro Almodóvar's most recent drama is one of his most personal: a semi-autobiographical study of an aging, isolated filmmaker who reconnects with an estranged colleague … and starts reassessing his own life.

—Norman Wilner

In this semiautobiographical take on her own life, [Pamela] Adlon plays "Sam," a working actress and single parent in Los Angeles.

—Kit Steinkellner

also : of, relating to, or in the style of a semi-autobiographical work

a semi-autobiographical protagonist/character/role

Through semiautobiographical storytelling, Jenna Dawn Maclellan's project will address the challenges of daily life in the North …

—The Sudbury Star

The acclaimed artist … is known for the semi-autobiographical nature of his work, which riffs on his own youth in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam.

—Guy Dixon

Is this all meant to be a semi-autobiographical comment on what fame does to relationships, since [Darren] Aronofsky and [Jennifer] Lawrence are an item in real life?

—Ryan Lambie

Examples of semi-autobiographical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The semi-autobiographical show follows Martin falling in love with shy teacher George (Charlotte Ritchie), but their romance is complicated by addiction, past trauma, late-in-life coming out, and family. —Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024

The semi-autobiographical story centers on an up-and-coming journalist in Philadelphia who deals with shaky self-esteem, a fresh-out-of-the-closet mom, an absent father and the guy who broke her heart. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024

Bushnell originally wrote her column in the first person, but later created the semi-autobiographical character Carrie to hide her romantic endeavors from her parents. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024

The science fiction anti-war story is known for being semi-autobiographical as Vonnegut served in the U.S. army during World War II. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Mar. 2024

The Saturday Night Live alum has walked away from the planned second season of his semi-autobiographical Peacock comedy. —Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024

Derek Hough, Fat Joe, and Lopez’s real-life husband, Ben Affleck, also appear in the semi-autobiographical musical film. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024

The next chapter of Schumer’s semi-autobiographical Hulu series follows the romantic relationship between Beth (Schumer) and John (Michael Cera). —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

The follow-up season to her semi-autobiographical Hulu dramedy, which launched all 10 episodes on Thursday, centers on the romantic relationship between Beth (Schumer) and John (played by Michael Cera), who — as the trailer revealed — get married early on in the new season. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above