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: the use of historical documents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

In areas where factual completeness matters such as legal research, tax analysis, or medical documentation, domain-specific AI tools will give companies a distinct advantage. —Danny Werfel, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026

Foster care providers were not consistently monitored, and required background checks and medical documentation were missing. —J.b. Jennings, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2026

Gisèle, by contrast, had a huge amount of documentation but no memory of events. —Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026

An avid field recordist, Kamaru has spoken of running his documentations of his surroundings—buses and bustling markets in Nairobi, sirens and birdsong in Berlin—through various types of digital processing, stretching and mulching and interweaving them with synths until the humdrum becomes musical. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 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