docudrama

noun

docu·​dra·​ma ˈdä-kyə-ˌdrä-mə 

-ˌdra-, 

-kyü-

: a drama (as for television) dealing freely with historical events especially of a recent and controversial nature

Examples of docudrama in a Sentence

They are making a docudrama about the controversial court case.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Voice of Hind Rajab Kaouther Ben Hania’s heart-wrenching docudrama is a marvel—a meticulous retelling of the true story of Hind Rajab, the six-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped inside a car under fire in northern Gaza in January of 2024. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026

Not because Love Story might stray from the truth—as any docudrama must, to some extent, do—but because its cartoonish depiction of the character is an insult to our collective intelligence. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Mar. 2026

This docudrama uses recordings of her actual voice blended with actors portraying the responders who desperately tried to save this child who was surrounded by the bodies of her relatives. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2026

The actress and filmmaker directed the final episode of his new Fox Nation docudrama series, The Saints. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

documentary + drama

First Known Use

circa 1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for docudrama

• diorama
• panorama
• trichogramma
• gamma
• grama
• gramma

Kids Definition

docudrama

noun

do·​cu·​dra·​ma

ˈdäk-yə-ˌdräm-ə, 

-ˌdram-

: a drama (as for television) dealing freely with historical events especially of a recent or controversial nature