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: the use of historical documents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 of documentation

• 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

Do not undergo or pay for any treatment before reading detailed documentation of the procedure. — Ella Moore july 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

To achieve genuine industrial independence, SIMA must gradually develop expertise in supplier qualification, design management, configuration control, engineering documentation, and lifecycle support. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026

Today, physicians and healthcare organizations are using GenAI almost exclusively to improve documentation, capture billing codes and reduce administrative work. — Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The Alaska letter asks recipients to affirm their citizenship status via letter, phone or email, and Beecher said the division is not requiring paperwork or documentation. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

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