nonfiction

noun

non·​fic·​tion ˌnän-ˈfik-shən 

: writing or cinema that is about facts and real events

He prefers to read nonfiction rather than novels.

nonfictional

ˌnän-ˈfik-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Examples of nonfiction in a Sentence

He reads a lot of nonfiction.

Recent Examples on the Web

The property partners with Aspen Words, a local literary center founded by the Aspen Institute, on a rotating collection of fiction and nonfiction titles. —Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2025

Susan Orlean is the bestselling author of The Orchid Thief, The Library Book, and eight other works of nonfiction. —Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

Extensive further festival play is a given, but specialist nonfiction distributors will be drawn to the film’s wry human interest and considerable visual beauty, best served by theatrical exhibition. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025

Or, for that matter, Patterson’s more recent expansion in the nonfiction space, with a growing list of adaptation-ready page-turners covering A-list scandal and true crime. —Joe Pompeo, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonfiction

• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• conviction
• depiction
• eviction
• infliction
• prediction
• restriction
• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction

Kids Definition

nonfiction

noun

non·​fic·​tion ˈnän-ˈfik-shən 

: literature or cinema that is not fictional

nonfictional

(ˈ)nän-ˈfik-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective