mockumentary

noun mock·u·men·ta·ry \ ˌmä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē , -ˈmen-trē \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of mockumentary

plural mockumentaries

: a facetious or satirical work (such as a film) presented in the style of a documentary

Recent Examples of mockumentary from the Web

So says John Krasinski, best known for playing Jim Halpert on that wildly popular NBC mockumentary.

— isaac feldberg, BostonGlobe.com, "John Krasinski indulges his parental paranoia in ‘A Quiet Place’," 29 Mar. 2018
With such a loose interpretation of what is and isn’t real, and a recent Netflix mockumentary about the adventure furthering that narrative, outrage and applause have followed.

— adam popescu, New York Times, "Damien Hirst’s Post-Venice, Post-Truth World," 13 Mar. 2018
The Chico El Luchador mini documentary is a mockumentary that accentuates the ridiculous but enjoyable nature of pro wrestling from the perspective of both the fans and the wrestlers.

— justin barrasso, SI.com, "Week in Wrestling: Luke Harper’s journey from the Wyatts to Hollywood; WrestleMania update," 9 Mar. 2018
The film will be screened as a double feature in approximately 100 movie theaters across the country with SOS to the Sailor, a mockumentary featuring Russia's legendary rock group Mumiy Troll.

— billboard japan, Billboard, "X JAPAN Documentary 'We Are X' Released in Russia," 31 Jan. 2018
Spinal Tap fans will love reliving various sketches from the mockumentary.

— john j. kelly, Detroit Free Press, "Holiday Gift Guide: For literary friends and family members give books," 17 Dec. 2017
But throughout the mockumentary, the directors take cameras to various cons across the world where people line up for days just to catch a glimpse of any Top Knot stars.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "Top Knot Detective finds 2017 absurdity in ‘90s TV’s samurai crossover hits," 4 Nov. 2017
The actress headlines the mockumentary Cook Off! (in theaters Nov. 17), which aims to do for cooking competitions what Show did for eccentric dog owners and Waiting for Guffman did for small-town theater folks.

— brian truitt, USA TODAY, "Watch Melissa McCarthy go crazy for baking competitions in first 'Cook Off!' trailer," 19 Sep. 2017
However, The Office veteran who spent eight seasons on the NBC mockumentary as a writer, actress and eventual executive producer, doesn't rule out future projects on broadcast, as evidenced by Champions.

— kate stanhope, The Hollywood Reporter, "Mindy Kaling on Saying Goodbye to 'The Mindy Project' and What's Next," 13 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mockumentary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mockumentary

blend of mock and documentary

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First Known Use: 1965

in the meaning defined above

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