biographer

American  

[bahy-og-ruh-fer, bee-] / baɪˈɒg rə fər, bi- /

noun

1. a writer of someone's biography.

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Etymology

Origin of biographer

First recorded in 1705–15; biograph(y) + -er ¹

Explanation

A biographer is a writer who specializes in true stories of other people's lives. The finished books that biographers publish are called biographies. In some cases, well-known writers, actors, and other public figures work with biographers in order to collaborate on their own biographies. Other times, biographers research the lives of their subjects after they've died. In the 1660s, they were known as biographists. The root of all variations on biography is the Late Greek biographia, "description of life," from bio-, "life," and graphia, "record or account."

Example Sentences

One might cite—this book does not—the case of the down-on-her-luck biographer Lee Israel, who forged letters and autographs of the famous until she was caught.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

In the words of biographer David Reynolds, Brown’s execution helped “spark” the Civil War.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

But Hanson's biographer and filmmaker Dr Anna Broinowski says the One Nation leader has endured as a figurehead of right-wing politics because she paints herself as a "person of the people".

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Her biographer, Mark Oppenheimer, is a middle-aged father of five.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

In order to ensure that she would be the first and most authoritative Anthony biographer, Harper burned most of Anthony’s letters and documents.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• author
• columnist
• correspondent
• critic
• dramatist
• editor
• essayist
• journalist
• novelist
• poet
• reporter
• screenwriter