documentary
/dɒkjʊˈmɛnt(ə)ri
/adjective
1Consisting of or based on official documents: documentary evidence of regular payments from the company...
- We had told Mr Blunkett's officials about our irrefutable documentary evidence before he wrote his article.
- The discussion so far has been mainly based upon literary and documentary evidence.
- His published record was the first documentary evidence in Europe of the existence of the New World.
Synonyms
recorded, documented, registered, written, chronicled, archived, archive, on record, in writing, on paper;
tabulated, charted
2Using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a particular subject: a documentary programme about Manchester United...
- Loach also commented that the use of documentary elements reflected the programme's scheduling.
- He belonged to the generation of broadcasters who saw documentary reporting as the highest possible calling.
- On the last day, the subjects went to a law school where they saw a documentary re-enactment of a real rape trial.
Synonyms
factual, non-fictional, real-life, true to life, fact-based
noun (plural documentaries)
A film or television or radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject.In the last month he has been the subject of two television documentaries....
- There are many books, films and documentaries on the subject of widows in India.
- His exploits are to be screened on two television documentaries about the sport.
Synonyms
factual programme, factual film;
programme, film, report, presentation, broadcast, transmission
Derivatives
documentarily
Origin
Early 19th century: from document + -ary1.