narrative

[ nar-uh-tiv ]

noun

1. a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

   Synonyms: tale, chronicle

2. a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.
3. the art, technique, or process of narrating, or of telling a story:

   Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.

4. a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis:

   to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity; the narrative that our public schools are failing.

adjective

1. consisting of or being a narrative:

   a narrative poem.

2. of or relating to narration, or the telling of a story:

   My English teacher's narrative skill makes characters seem to come to life.

3. Fine Arts. representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally: Compare anecdotal ( def 2 ).

   narrative painting.

narrative

/ ˈnærətɪv /

noun

1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc
2. the narrative
   the part of a literary work that relates events
3. the process or technique of narrating

adjective

1. telling a story

   a narrative poem

2. of or relating to narration

   narrative art

Derived Forms

• ˈnarratively, adverb

Other Words From

• narra·tive·ly adverb
• non·narra·tive adjective noun
• semi·narra·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of narrative¹

First recorded in 1445–55; from Middle French narratif (adjective and noun), from Late Latin narrātīvus “narration” (noun), “suitable for narration” (adjective), from narrāt(us) “related, told” (past participle of narrāre “to relate, tell, say”) + -īvus, adjective suffix; equivalent to narrate ( def ) + -ive ( def )

Synonym Study

Narrative, account, recital, history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.

Example Sentences

Looking back at “U2:UV,” the Edge, 63, says a Sphere production is “its own distinct kind of art form — a new art form, I think, not just for music but for narrative film, for documentary, for all kinds of presentations. It’s the ability to translocate the audience to a new place, be it real or imaginary.”

From Los Angeles Times

The next month, as the Center for Media and Democracy reports, when committee co-chair Liz Cheney announced that Trump had attempted to contact an unnamed witness who was set to testify, Budowich shot back by tweet: “The media has become pawns of the Unselect Committee. Liz Cheney continues to traffic in innuendos and lies that go unchallenged, unconfirmed, but repeated as fact because the narrative is more important than the truth.”

From Salon

Right-wing media now dominates with its lies, while corporate media has failed to counterbalance the right-wing narrative.

From Salon

I would burrow and seek refuge in reading narrative stories and watching movies.

From Salon

“They twisted his narrative into believing something else.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account
• anecdote
• book
• chronicle
• chronology
• description
• detail
• fiction
• history
• narration
• plot
• version