bibliography

noun

bib·​li·​og·​ra·​phy ˌbi-blē-ˈä-grə-fē 

plural bibliographies

1

: the history, identification, or description of writings or publications

2

a

: a list often with descriptive or critical notes of writings relating to a particular subject, period, or author

a bibliography of modern poetry

b

: a list of works written by an author or printed by a publishing house

compiled a complete bibliography of John Donne

3

: the works or a list of the works referred to in a text or consulted by the author in its production

The book's bibliography contains over 400 items.

bibliographic

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

or less commonly bibliographical

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

bibliographically

ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Example Sentences

The instructor provided the students with an excellent bibliography on local history.

The book includes a lengthy bibliography.

Recent Examples on the Web

With an annotated bibliography providing a generous selection of further resources, the book invites both intense study and casual browsing. —Michael Berry, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 May 2022

The information must be accompanied by a bibliography, the full text or copy of the materials and activities, and a link to the associated curriculum adopted by the school board. —Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 Dec. 2021

And Marketplace of the Gods serves as a decent precis of the literature, and its bibliography is well worth perusing. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2010

As a part of the digitization, the scans will be posted online, and will have accompanying transcription, translations, and bibliography, the press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority said: ... —Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2010

Record of the first bibliography can be traced back to the Ancient Library of Alexandria. —Ian Vorster, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2015

Its aim is to provide a comprehensive bibliography to approach the language of photography with consciousness and critical sense. —Francesca Marani, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2022

Sears compiled an extensive bibliography on the marine life that contributed to bottom fouling, the kind of report that could save the government millions. —Catherine Musemeche, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022

For further reading, purchase a fashionable pink and yellow scarf on which has been printed Slavs and Tatar’s extensive bibliography. —Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

probably from New Latin bibliographia, from Greek, the copying of books, from bibli- + -graphia -graphy

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bibliography

noun

bib·​li·​og·​ra·​phy ˌbib-lē-ˈäg-rə-fē 

plural bibliographies

: a list of writings about a subject or author or by an author

bibliographic

ˌbib-lē-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

or bibliographical

-ˈgraf-i-kəl