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

Noun

• story
• chronology
• history
• account
• narration
• record
• version

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

This narrative has taken center stage over a far more complicated and interesting reality. —Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Because while the public narrative is about consistency, the private reality is about reach. —Ivana Johnston, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Adjective

This can detract from shots that rack focus from one subject to another for narrative effect, a fairly common practice in the language of cinema. —PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025

Night one honored key players in narrative fiction (though the results don’t hint obviously at next week’s big winners), and night two shifts to reality, variety, nonfiction, and documentary programming. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025

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