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
TV GuideThe 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
Simon BerryPedro 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
Norman WilnerIn this semiautobiographical take on her own life, [Pamela] Adlon plays "Sam," a working actress and single parent in Los Angeles.—Kit Steinkellner
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 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
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
Ryan Lambie Examples of semi-autobiographical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Reiner, who co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie — a semi-autobiographical story about a young man’s battle with addiction — has reportedly struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues for years.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
Spielberg's last movie The Fabelmans hit theaters in 2022; the semi-autobiographical film received seven Oscar nominations.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
Reiner and his son Nick explored their troubled relationship in a 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which chronicled Nick’s struggles with addiction, cycles of rehab, and bouts of homelessness in between.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
Rob previously worked with Nick on Being Charlie, a semi-autobiographical drama in which Nick opened up about his battles with drug addiction and homelessness, which began in his teens.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first season of Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical, silly-sad dramedy, two depressed young men—one straight and eager to fit in, the other gay and nervous about exploring his sexuality—become college roommates, then fast friends.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
The book’s title refers to a scene in Almost Famous, Crowe’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece inspired by this period.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2025
Lexi, whose semi-autobiographical play caused an uproar in the second season, is an assistant to a showrunner played by Sharon Stone.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Following its Cannes premiere earlier this year, My Father’s Shadow has released the first trailer of its semi-autobiographical tale.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
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.
Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
Spielberg's last movie The Fabelmans hit theaters in 2022; the semi-autobiographical film received seven Oscar nominations.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
Reiner and his son Nick explored their troubled relationship in a 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which chronicled Nick’s struggles with addiction, cycles of rehab, and bouts of homelessness in between.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
Rob previously worked with Nick on Being Charlie, a semi-autobiographical drama in which Nick opened up about his battles with drug addiction and homelessness, which began in his teens.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first season of Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical, silly-sad dramedy, two depressed young men—one straight and eager to fit in, the other gay and nervous about exploring his sexuality—become college roommates, then fast friends.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
The book’s title refers to a scene in Almost Famous, Crowe’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece inspired by this period.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2025
Lexi, whose semi-autobiographical play caused an uproar in the second season, is an assistant to a showrunner played by Sharon Stone.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Following its Cannes premiere earlier this year, My Father’s Shadow has released the first trailer of its semi-autobiographical tale.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Semi-autobiographical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semi-autobiographical. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share