documentary

[ dok-yuh-men-tuh-ree, -tree ]
/ ˌdɒk yəˈmɛn tə ri, -tri /

adjective

Also doc·u·men·tal [dok-yuh-men-tl] /ˌdɒk yəˈmɛn tl/. pertaining to, consisting of, or derived from documents: a documentary history of France.
Movies, Television. based on or re-creating an actual event, era, life story, etc., that purports to be factually accurate and contains no fictional elements: a documentary life of Gandhi.

noun, plural doc·u·men·ta·ries.

Movies, Television. a documentary film, radio or television program, etc.

Origin of documentary

First recorded in 1795–1805; document + -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM documentary

British Dictionary definitions for documentarily

documentary
/ (ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

Also: documental consisting of, derived from, or relating to documents
presenting factual material with little or no fictional additions the book gives a documentary account of the war

noun plural -ries

a factual film or television programme about an event, person, etc, presenting the facts with little or no fiction

Derived forms of documentary

documentarily, adverb