doc·u·men·ta·ry
ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē 
-ˈmen-trē,
-kyü-
1
: being or consisting of documents : contained or certified in writing
documentary evidence
2
: of, relating to, or employing documentation (see documentation sense 2) in literature or art
plural documentaries
: a presentation (such as a film or novel) expressing or dealing with factual events : a documentary presentation
Examples of documentary in a Sentence
Adjective
You must present documentary proof of your residence.
a documentary film about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
Noun
We watched a documentary on the early history of jazz.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2026
Structurally, the first two seasons of this show keep everything within a documentary format, up to the point at the end of the second season where Valerie leaves the Emmys and the cameras behind to be with Mickey in a much harder reality.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The power and possibility of documentary filmmaking was a theme throughout the week.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for documentary
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Adjective
Related Stories Graydon and Vail have already baked an ambitious slate, starting with a documentary feature about Christopher Hitchens – the author and polemicist published often during Carter’s 25-year reign at Vanity Fair.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2026
Structurally, the first two seasons of this show keep everything within a documentary format, up to the point at the end of the second season where Valerie leaves the Emmys and the cameras behind to be with Mickey in a much harder reality.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Noun
Tackling a subject close to home for writer-director Marie Kreutzer, Gentle Monster examines the fallout when Philip Weiss (Laurence Rupp) — a middle-class Austrian documentary maker, father and beloved husband — is accused of watching, distributing and maybe even making child pornography.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The power and possibility of documentary filmmaking was a theme throughout the week.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for documentary
Cite this Entry
“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/documentary. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
documentary
1 of 2 adjective
doc·u·men·ta·ry
ˌdäk-yə-ˈment-ə-rē
-ˈmen-trē
1
: consisting of documents
also
: being in writing
documentary proof
2
: presenting actual events or facts about something
a documentary film
documentary
2 of 2 noun
plural documentaries
: a documentary presentation (as a film or novel)
Legal Definition
documentary
adjective
doc·u·men·ta·ry
ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē
: being, consisting of, or contained in documents
documentary evidence
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