semi-autobiographical

adjective

semi-au·​to·​bio·​graph·​i·​cal ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˌbī-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

ˌse-ˌmī-, 

-mi-

variants or less commonly semiautobiographical

: partly autobiography and partly fiction : being a fictionalized account of the author's life

a semi-autobiographical novel/film

… James Herriott's semiautobiographical story of his return from WWII to family and friends.

—TV Guide

The play is a convincing picture of a brief but powerful relationship, based on Owen's copious letters and the semi-autobiographical account of Sassoon's George Sherston.

—Simon Berry

Pedro Almodóvar's most recent drama is one of his most personal: a semi-autobiographical study of an aging, isolated filmmaker who reconnects with an estranged colleague … and starts reassessing his own life.

—Norman Wilner

In this semiautobiographical take on her own life, [Pamela] Adlon plays "Sam," a working actress and single parent in Los Angeles.

—Kit Steinkellner

also : of, relating to, or in the style of a semi-autobiographical work

a semi-autobiographical protagonist/character/role

Through semiautobiographical storytelling, Jenna Dawn Maclellan's project will address the challenges of daily life in the North …

—The Sudbury Star

The acclaimed artist … is known for the semi-autobiographical nature of his work, which riffs on his own youth in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam.

—Guy Dixon

Is this all meant to be a semi-autobiographical comment on what fame does to relationships, since [Darren] Aronofsky and [Jennifer] Lawrence are an item in real life?

—Ryan Lambie

Examples of semi-autobiographical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inspired by his journey to coming out of the closet as a college jock, Skinner’s semi-autobiographical series was renewed for Season 2 at Prime Video in September. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 June 2026

Simón’s film is semi-autobiographical; Jenkin’s couldn’t possibly be. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 June 2026

Sally Jay Gorce, the protagonist of the 1958 semi-autobiographical debut novel by Elaine Dundy. — Air Mail, 20 June 2026

In 2000, Cameron Crowe released Almost Famous, his acclaimed semi-autobiographical drama about a 15-year-old aspiring journalist who lands a dream gig profiling an emerging rock band for Rolling Stone. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Though the documentary’s primary peg was Keys bringing her semi-autobiographical musical Hell’s Kitchen to Broadway, the film attempted to cover an enormous amount of ground. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 June 2026

The film has been categorized as semi-autobiographical in nature for The Parent Trap director. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Martin will make her feature-film debut in Nancy Meyers' upcoming semi-autobiographical comedy. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 June 2026

Travolta’s infectious enthusiasm carried over into the movie itself, a semi-autobiographical trifle about his childhood love of air travel. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semi-autobiographical

• bibliographical