documentation

noun

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​tion ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌmen-,

-kyü-

1

: the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents

2

a

: the provision of documents in substantiation

also : documentary evidence

b(1)

: the use of historical documents

(2)

: conformity to historical or objective facts

(3)

: the provision of footnotes, appendices, or addenda referring to or containing documentary evidence

3

: information science

4

: the usually printed instructions, comments, and information for using a particular piece or system of computer software or hardware

documentational

ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

-ˌmen-

-kyü-

adjective

Synonyms

• evidence
• proof
• testimony

Examples of documentation in a Sentence

You cannot visit the country unless you have the proper documentation.

Keep your receipts as documentation of your purchases.

Can you provide documentation of the claims you're making?

The program's documentation is poorly written.

Recent Examples on the Web

Immigrants residing in the country illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, have been detained. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025

Ten minors without documentation were found at the farm during the raid, eight of whom were unaccompanied, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement on X. —Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

Clear documentation and audit pathways must be part of any enterprise offering. —Fabio Caversan, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025

Americans can enter these countries as tourists to visit the site of the homes before deciding to buy—which is required in some of these housing schemes—and don’t need this documentation to purchase. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for documentation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

documentation

noun

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​tion ˌdäk-yə-mən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌmen-

1

: the providing of documents as proof

2

: evidence in the form of documents

3

: written instructions for using a computer or computer program