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

It’s been over 40 years since Little House on the Prairie aired on television screens, and now, the iconic Ingalls family is back with Netflix’s new adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels. — Mariah Alanskas, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026

But how exactly does one tackle adapting Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical Little House books? — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026

More than four decades after the initial series ended its nine-season run on NBC, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical novels have been adapted to television once again. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 July 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semi-autobiographical

• bibliographical