narrative

1 of 2

noun

nar·​ra·​tive ˈner-ə-tiv 

ˈna-rə-

1

a

: something that is narrated : story, account

He is writing a detailed narrative of his life on the island.

b

: a way of presenting or understanding a situation or series of events that reflects and promotes a particular point of view or set of values

The rise of the Tea Party and the weakness of the Obama economy have fueled a Republican narrative about Big Government as a threat to liberty …

—Michael Grunwald

The media narrative around Kelly's appointment had two central ideas … : He would calm and professionalize the White House, and he would provide a more measured leadership style than his boss.

—Perry Bacon, Jr.

2

: the art or practice of narration

… depended not on narrative but on intensity derived from the verity to make the book jump.

—Stanley Kauffmann

3

: the representation in art of an event or story

also : an example of such a representation

the narrative of St. Joan of Arc

narratively adverb

narrative

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the form of a story or representing a story

a narrative poem

narrative paintings

2

: of or relating to the process of telling a story

the author's narrative style

the novel's narrative structure

Synonyms of narrative

Noun

• story
• chronology
• commentary
• history
• account
• report
• narration
• record

Examples of narrative in a Sentence

Noun

He is writing a detailed narrative of his life on the island.

People have questioned the accuracy of his narrative.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The story begins on a train, somewhat subverts the typical strangers-on-a-train narrative in which a chance encounter leads to a love story (that is, the Linklater version rather than the Hitchcock one). —Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026

But the investments may complicate Steyer’s campaign narrative as an anti-plutocrat progressive who aims to tax corporations and the rich to fund policies like single-payer health care. —Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Letourneau honed that narrative approach during his decade-plus as a sportswriter. —Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026

Yet Grace is the one who wakes up in space, and this story emerges nonlinearly, narrative flashbacks like bursts of memory ripping through his brain, discombobulated after a long intergalactic coma. —Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing narrative

• counter-narrative

Kids Definition

narrative

noun

nar·​ra·​tive ˈnar-ət-iv 

1

: something (as a story) that is told or written

2

: the art or practice of telling stories

narrative adjective