Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Presenting facts objectively: Emphasizing or expressing things as perceived without distortion of personal feelings, insertion of fictional matter, or interpretation.
   • Consisting of documents: Relating to, consisting of, or derived from official documents or records.

2. Noun:

   • A factual film or program: A film or television program that presents factual information, records real events, or provides a detailed report about a person, subject, or event.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The museum provided documentary evidence of the historical event.
  • She is known for her documentary style of photography, capturing life as it is.
• Noun:
  • We watched a fascinating documentary about marine life last night.
  • The filmmaker produced a documentary on the impact of climate change.

Advanced Usage

• "Documentary evidence": Official documents or records used as proof in a legal or formal context.
  • The court case relied heavily on documentary evidence such as contracts and letters.
• "Documentary realism": A style in art, photography, or filmmaking that aims to depict subjects truthfully and without artificiality.
  • His paintings are celebrated for their documentary realism, portraying everyday scenes with accuracy.

Variants and Related Words

• Documentarist (noun): A person who makes documentary films.
  • She is an award-winning documentarist known for her in-depth reports.
• Document (noun/verb): As a noun, a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence. As a verb, to record something in detail.
  • Please submit the required documents. (noun)
  • The report will document the findings of the investigation. (verb)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Factual, objective, nonfictional, evidential.
• Noun: Docudrama (a dramatized film based on fact), featurette, reportage.

Related Phrases

• "Fly-on-the-wall documentary": A style of documentary filmmaking where the subjects are observed with minimal interference from the filmmakers.
  • The fly-on-the-wall documentary series showed the daily life of the hospital staff.
• "Documentary filmmaking": The process or art of making documentary films.
  • He studied documentary filmmaking at university.

Related Idioms

• "The documentary record": The complete collection of documents or evidence pertaining to a particular subject or period.
  • Historians are analyzing the documentary record to understand the causes of the conflict.

Adjective

1. emphasizing or expressing things as perceived without distortion of personal feelings, insertion of fictional matter, or interpretation
   • objective art
2. relating to or consisting of or derived from documents

Noun

1. a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event