biography

[ bahy-og-ruh-fee, bee- ]

noun

, plural bi·og·ra·phies.

1. a written account of another person's life:

   the biography of Byron by Marchand.

2. an account in biographical form of an organization, society, theater, animal, etc.
3. such writings collectively.
4. the writing of biography as an occupation or field of endeavor.

biography

/ baɪˈɒɡrəfɪ; ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl /

noun

1. an account of a person's life by another
2. such accounts collectively

biography

1. The story of someone's life. The Life of Samuel Johnson , by James Boswell , and Abraham Lincoln , by Carl Sandburg , are two noted biographies. The story of the writer's own life is an autobiography .

Derived Forms

• biˈographer, noun
• biographical, adjective
• ˌbioˈgraphically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of biography¹

From the Greek word biographía, dating back to 1675–85. See bio-, -graphy

Example Sentences

Her biography on a Labour Party website from 2010 said: "Rachel has previously worked as an economist for the Bank of England, the British Embassy in Washington and at Halifax Bank of Scotland."

From BBC

The author and contributing editor to Vanity Fair was searching for material to add to a new edition of her Babitz biography, “Hollywood’s Eve,” but wound up sniffing out an entirely new project.

From Los Angeles Times

Those achievements will rightfully fill up the majority of De León’s biography.

From Los Angeles Times

Her struggles against misogyny, prejudice and bullying are detailed in a new biography called 'No Place For a Girl'.

From BBC

Jennings recounted parts of Harris’ biography — how she was born and raised in California, attended an HBCU, and served as both a senator and vice president.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• autobiography
• diary
• journal
• life
• life story
• memoir
• picture
• profile
• sketch