commentary

noun

com·men·tary | \ ˈkä-mən-ˌter-ē

, -ˌte-rē\

plural commentaries

Definition of commentary

1a : an explanatory treatise —usually used in plural Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England

b : a record of events usually written by a participant —usually used in plural Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War

2a : a systematic series of explanations or interpretations (as of a writing) a commentary on Dante's Divine Comedy

b : comment sense 2

3a : something that serves for illustration or explanation The dark, airless apartments and sunless factories … are a sad commentary upon our civilization.— Harry Allen Overstreet

b : an expression of opinion The magazine article is a commentary on cyberbullying.

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about commentary

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Examples of commentary in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Have your social media feeds been filled with news and commentary on The Mind of Jake Paul? — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Mental Health Experts Want You to Know Before Watching the Buzzy New YouTube Series ‘The Mind of Jake Paul’," 12 Oct. 2018 Taken together, the evidence suggests breast-feeding has a small but durable impact on children’s intelligence, according to a 2017 commentary in the journal Pediatrics. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "The Downside of Carrying the Most Weight at Work," 29 Jan. 2019 Being a bride meant being subjected to unsolicited commentary on nearly every aspect of my life. — Lisa Peterson, Glamour, "I Grew Out My Hair for Months Before My Wedding. I Regret It.," 27 Sep. 2018 Basquiat’s works can also elicit the opposite response, very much in evidence in commentary on a recent retrospective mounted at the Barbican, in London, and then at the Schirn Kunsthalle, in Frankfurt. — Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, "Jean-Michel Basquiat Is Still an Enigma," 24 June 2018 Since the mogul’s election, the media giant has forced all of its affiliates to air commentary that advances White House talking points. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Sinclair Forced Its Local Stations to Discredit Outrage Over Family Separation," 21 June 2018 The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. — Kaitlyn Gaynor, CNN, "To avoid humans, more wildlife now work the night shift," 14 June 2018 For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "What is Alfonso Cuarón's 'Roma' About? The Oscar-Nominated Film Is a Runaway Success," 23 Feb. 2019 Both Colletti and Lafferty give their commentary during a OTH episode, and fans can join in the fun and watch along. — Kristen O'brien, PEOPLE.com, "One Tree Hill's James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti Reunite for a Show About Struggling Actors," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commentary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.