bibliography

1 of 2

noun

bib·​li·​og·​ra·​phy ˌbi-blē-ˈä-grə-fē 

plural bibliographies

1

: the history, identification, or description of writings or publications

2

a

: a list often with descriptive or critical notes of writings relating to a particular subject, period, or author

a bibliography of modern poetry

b

: a list of works written by an author or printed by a publishing house

compiled a complete bibliography of John Donne

3

: the works or a list of the works referred to in a text or consulted by the author in its production

The book's bibliography contains over 400 items.

bibliographic

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

or less commonly bibliographical

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

bibliographically

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

bibliographic

2 of 2

adjective

bib·​lio·​graph·​ic ¦bi-blē-ə-¦gra-fik 

-blē-ō-

variants or less commonly bibliographical

¦bi-blē-ə-¦gra-fi-kəl 

-blē-ō-

: of, relating to, or dealing with bibliography

bibliographically

¦bi-blē-ə-¦gra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

-blē-ō-

adverb

Examples of bibliography in a Sentence

Noun

The instructor provided the students with an excellent bibliography on local history.

The book includes a lengthy bibliography.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In fact, Steinbeck’s bibliography is kind of perfect for the feel-bad vibe that has set in this year. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 May 2026

This forum doesn’t provide space for a citation and bibliography page with links to videos that prove my point. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

Black Studies on 135th Street features a bibliography of this rediscovered library. —Laura E. Helton, Literary Hub, 20 Apr. 2026

The site also contains search tools as well as a predictably gigantic source bibliography. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from New Latin bibliographia, from Greek, the copying of books, from bibli- + -graphia -graphy

Adjective

bibliographic from French bibliographique, from bibliographie + -ique -ic; bibliographical from French bibliographique + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bibliography

• arthrography
• biography
• cartography
• cosmography
• cryptography
• demography
• discography
• echography
• ethnography
• filmography
• geography
• hydrography

Kids Definition

bibliography

noun

bib·​li·​og·​ra·​phy ˌbib-lē-ˈäg-rə-fē 

plural bibliographies

: a list of writings about a subject or author or by an author

bibliographic

ˌbib-lē-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

or bibliographical

-ˈgraf-i-kəl