: writing or cinema that is about facts and real events
He prefers to read nonfiction rather than novels.

Examples of nonfiction in a Sentence

He reads a lot of nonfiction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That’s a rare result for nonfiction in a theatrical market that has been unkind to documentaries, and the film is only beginning to roll out internationally. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026 Groom will report to Amazon MGM Studios nonfiction head Jenn Levy, who made the announcement Wednesday. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026 In between raising her four precocious children, Kimmy wrote popular nonfiction. — CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 It’s also known as the home of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, the longest-running nonfiction cinematic event in North America. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nonfiction

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonfiction was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Nonfiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonfiction. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

nonfiction

noun
: literature or cinema that is not fictional
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