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: the use of historical documents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-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

-ˌmen-

-kyü-

adjective

Synonyms

• attestation
• confirmation
• corroboration
• evidence
• proof
• substantiation
• testament
• testimonial
• testimony
• validation
• voucher
• witness

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

Emails should be reserved for sharing information, updates, and documentation. —Lisa Bodell, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Create a new state crime that prohibits a natural person who is not lawfully present in the U.S. from knowingly submitting false documentation when applying for a federal, state or local public benefit. —Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 10 Sep. 2024

At least once at the beginning of their international career, athletes submit documentation of their medical condition and also undergo evaluation by a minimum of two classifiers. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 3 Sep. 2024

And there’s a fragment of the different visions, different documentations that lends to different facts. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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