biography
beye-OG-ruh-fee
Biography (noun) means a written account of a person's life, usually published as a book. Example: “The library has a new biography of a famous Victorian engineer.”
noun
1
A written account of a person's life, usually published as a book.
"The library has a new biography of a famous Victorian engineer."
"There are many biographies of Benjamin Franklin."
"She read a biography of Winston Churchill last month."
"The singer's biography reveals details about her childhood."
How to use biography
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe written story of someone's whole life, usually researched and written by someone else.
Common mistake
An "autobiography" is written by the subject themselves; a "biography" is written by someone else about them.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
write a biography
authorised biography
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Word forms
- Plural
- biographies
- Third person singular
- biographies
- Past tense
- biographied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The library has a new _____ of a famous Victorian engineer.
Etymology
Borrowed via New Latin biographia from Ancient Greek bios ("life") and graphia ("writing") — literally "life-writing."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for biography
geography
demography
tomography
ideography
topography
lithography
iconography
mammography
discography
paleography
photography
pornography
See all rhymes for biography →
Frequently asked questions
What does “biography” mean?
The word “biography” means a written account of a person's life, usually published as a book. In plain terms, the written story of someone's whole life, usually researched and written by someone else.
How do you pronounce “biography”?
“Biography” is pronounced beye-OG-ruh-fee (/baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/ in IPA).
How do you use “biography” in a sentence?
Here is “biography” used in a sentence: “She read a biography of Winston Churchill last month.”
What part of speech is “biography”?
“Biography” is a noun.
Where does the word “biography” come from?
The word “biography” comes from Ancient Greek. Borrowed via New Latin biographia from Ancient Greek bios ("life") and graphia ("writing") — literally "life-writing.".
Is “biography” a common word?
“Biography” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a biography and an autobiography?
A biography is an account of a person's life written by someone else, while an autobiography is written by the subject about their own life. The key distinction is authorship: another person writes a biography, but you write your own autobiography.
What is the difference between a biography and a memoir?
A biography aims to cover the whole span of a person's life, usually in chronological detail and written by another person. A memoir is typically self-written and focuses on particular episodes, themes, or periods rather than an entire life story.
What is the difference between a biography and a bio?
A biography is a full-length account of a person's life, often published as a book. A bio is a short summary of someone's background, such as the paragraph on a website or book jacket, and is an informal shortening rather than a complete life story.
What is an authorized biography?
An authorized biography is one written with the cooperation and approval of its subject or their estate, who may grant access to private letters, papers, or interviews. An unauthorized biography is written without that permission and involvement.
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