document

1 of 2

noun

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-mənt 

-kyü-

1

law

a

archaic : proof, evidence

b

: an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something

c

: something (such as a photograph or a recording) that serves as evidence or proof

2

a

: a writing conveying information

financial documents

historical documents

a classified document that was leaked to the media

b

: a material substance (such as a coin or stone) having on it a representation of thoughts by means of some conventional mark or symbol

c

: documentary

3

: a computer file containing information input by a computer user and usually created with an application (such as a spreadsheet or word processor)

create a new document

documental

ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

-kyü-

adjective

document

2 of 2

verb

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-ˌment 

documented; documenting; documents

transitive verb

1

: to furnish documentary evidence of

documenting their claims

documenting gorillas in their natural habitat

2

: to furnish with documents

… offer coverage for recently documented but not undocumented immigrants …

—New York University

3

a

: to provide with factual or substantial support for statements made or a hypothesis proposed

charges that were well documented

document your claim

especially : to equip with exact references (see reference entry 1 sense 3b) to authoritative supporting information (as by means of footnotes)

failed to adequately document your sources

b(1)

: to construct or produce (something, such as a movie or novel) with authentic situations or events

(2)

: to portray realistically

documents the challenges of being a single parent

4

nautical : to furnish (a ship) with ship's papers

documentable

ˈdä-kyə-ˌmen-tə-bəl 

ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-, 

-kyü-

adjective

documenter

ˈdä-kyə-ˌmen-tər 

noun

Synonyms of document

Noun

• form
• paper

Verb

• prove
• establish
• demonstrate

Examples of document in a Sentence

Noun

It is important to keep all of your financial documents in a safe place.

An important classified document has been leaked to the media.

creating a new document on your computer

I lost the document when the hard drive crashed.

Verb

Her study was the first to document this type of behavior in gorillas.

He wrote a book documenting their struggle.

Can you document the claims you're making?

The charges are well documented.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Available documents indicate the warrant was related to the traffic case involving his driver’s license, although the extradition file does not specify its exact origin. — Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

The New York Times reported Thursday that the documents released by the White House did not back up his claims. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Verb

Benchmark selection rationale, red-team findings and bias audit results, including inconclusive ones, must be documented rather than summarized. — Akash Pugalia, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Accompanied by firsthand reflections from the photographers, these images offer a glimpse of how local communities gathered to share in the Cup, as well as the observations that stayed with the photographers who documented it. — Meredith Nierman, NPR, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, precept, teaching, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin documentum official paper, from Latin, lesson, proof, from docēre to teach — more at docile

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

document

1 of 2 noun

doc·​u·​ment ˈdäk-yə-mənt 

1

: a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something

2

: a computer file usually created with an application program (as a word processor)

document

2 of 2 verb

doc·​u·​ment ˈdäk-yə-ˌment 

: to give evidence of by a document

documentable

ˈdäk-yə-ˌment-ə-bəl 

ˌdäk-yə-ˈment-

adjective

Legal Definition

document

1 of 2 noun

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-mənt 

1

: a writing (as a deed or lease) conveying information see also instrument

2

a

: something (as a writing, photograph, or recording) that may be used as evidence

b

: an official paper (as a license) relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something (as a right or privilege)

document

2 of 2 transitive verb

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-ˌment 

1

a

: to furnish documentary evidence of

b

: to provide with exact references to authoritative supporting information

2

: to furnish (as a ship) with documents (as ship's papers)