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
Blue Heron is one of several semi-autobiographical films that reckons with a filmmaker’s troubled upbringing in relation to their early years as an artist.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari does something similar with the new movie Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical piece whose structure loops in on itself, melding fact and fiction into a doleful portrait of a family tragedy.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Savell has twice been nominated for his role in ITV’s semi-autobiographical Changing Ends — including at the upcoming BAFTAs — which is about the early life of Carr and stars the Celebrity Traitors winner as himself.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
The update comes over a year after the streamer revealed the adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books back in January 2025, with the show having been in talks for several years.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
His script for the semi-autobiographical Belfast finally won him a little gold man, after seven nominations going back to his first, for Henry V in 1989.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The Oscar-winning auteur Sarah Polley has tapped Eilish to lead a new adaptation of Plath’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Bell Jar.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Keem reflects on his journey with a semi-autobiographical new album, but his performances lack spark and his warring pop star and rapper sensibilities work against him.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Upon seeing the diverse crew on Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film, Balfe returned to the Outlander set along with Heughen to champion an inclusive transformation of their own production staff.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
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Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari does something similar with the new movie Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical piece whose structure loops in on itself, melding fact and fiction into a doleful portrait of a family tragedy.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Savell has twice been nominated for his role in ITV’s semi-autobiographical Changing Ends — including at the upcoming BAFTAs — which is about the early life of Carr and stars the Celebrity Traitors winner as himself.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
The update comes over a year after the streamer revealed the adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books back in January 2025, with the show having been in talks for several years.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
His script for the semi-autobiographical Belfast finally won him a little gold man, after seven nominations going back to his first, for Henry V in 1989.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The Oscar-winning auteur Sarah Polley has tapped Eilish to lead a new adaptation of Plath’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Bell Jar.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Keem reflects on his journey with a semi-autobiographical new album, but his performances lack spark and his warring pop star and rapper sensibilities work against him.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Upon seeing the diverse crew on Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film, Balfe returned to the Outlander set along with Heughen to champion an inclusive transformation of their own production staff.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Semi-autobiographical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semi-autobiographical. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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