anecdote

[ an-ik-doht ]

noun

, plural an·ec·dotes an·ec·do·ta [an-ik-, doh, -t, uh].

1. a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.
2. a short, obscure historical or biographical account.

anecdote

/ ˈænɪkˌdəʊt /

noun

1. a short usually amusing account of an incident, esp a personal or biographical one

Derived Forms

• ˌanecˈdotic, adjective
• ˌanecˈdotalist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anecdote¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes, from Late Greek, Greek anékdota “things unpublished” (referring particularly to Procopius's unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an- an- ¹ + ékdotos “given out,” adjective derivative of ekdidónai “to give out, publish” ( ek- ec- + didónai “to give”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of anecdote¹

C17: from Medieval Latin anecdota unpublished items, from Greek anekdotos unpublished, from an- + ekdotos published, from ekdidonai, from ek- out + didonai to give

Example Sentences

We all need an anecdote about Ethel Merman, who starred as Rose, the overbearing stage mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Sharon Palmer laughs as she tells this story, which seems, at first, like your standard cute anecdote, tossed off to humanize a famous daughter — an example of how stubborn kids can be in the pursuit of their desires, proof that years before she became a child star, Keke knew how to get what she wanted.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps the most revealing Hollywood anecdote is about Murphy, who created the 2015 Fox show “Scream Queens,” which Palmer co-starred on for two seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

The “Parks and Recreation” and “Angie Tribeca” star, who along with her six siblings confirmed that the music producer died Sunday at 91, shared an anecdote about her famous father on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

But far more revealing, and relevant to American politics, was the story’s opening anecdote, in which Trump offered to pay for the funeral of a Mexican American soldier who was murdered at Fort Bragg.

From Slate

Related Words

• episode
• gag
• narration
• narrative
• reminiscence
• short story
• sketch
• tale
• tall tale
• yarn