Synonyms for

Documentary

Verb / ˌdɑ:kjʌˈmentɜ:i: / / ˌdɑ:kjʌˈmenɜ:i: / / ˌdɑ:kju:ˈmentɜ:i: / / ˌdɑ:kju:ˈmenɜ:i: / Another word for documentary — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A documentary is a film or television program that presents facts and information about a subject.

Synonyms & similar words

objective documentaryfilm infotainment docudrama documental nonfiction factual educational informative fact-based realistic truthful historical journalistic newsreel reportage expository instructional didactic enlightening cultural ethnographic anthropological biographical

Synonyms by register

Formal

non-fiction factual verifiable

Informal

real-life true story actual

Literary

chronicle reportage

Antonyms

fictional imaginary invented unreal fabricated made-up

Common collocations

  • documentary film
  • documentary evidence
  • documentary photography
  • documentary series
  • documentary style
  • documentary research
  • documentary account

Word family

noun documentary
adjective documentary

Usage note

As an adjective, 'documentary' refers to something that presents facts or records events. It is often used in contrast to 'fictional' or 'dramatic'.

Example sentences

  1. I watched a documentary about the ocean.
  2. The documentary explained how the human brain works.
  3. The documentary was very informative.
  4. The documentary helped me learn about different cultures.
  5. The documentary won an award at the film festival.

Quotes

  • 'I think documentaries are the greatest way to educate an entire generation about real issues in the world.' - Leonardo DiCaprio
  • 'My favorite type of film is a documentary, because it's real and it's about life.' - Tom Hiddleston
  • 'A documentary film is one of the most powerful ways to educate and inform people about important issues.' - Ryan Coogler

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