document

[dok-yuh-muhnt, dok-yuh-ment]

noun

1. a written or printed paper furnishing information or evidence, as a passport, deed, bill of sale, or bill of lading; a legal or official paper.

   You'll need documents from your employers and your bank to prepare your income tax return.

2. any written item, as a book, article, or letter, especially of a factual or informative nature.

   The leaked document proves that the management team knew about the safety issues before the product launch.

3. Digital Technology.,  a computer data file, especially one with formatted text.

   Luckily, I saved my document right before the power went out.

4. Archaic.,  evidence; proof.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with documents.

2. to furnish with references, citations, etc., in support of statements made.

   a carefully documented biography.

   Synonyms: validate, substantiate, verify, corroborate

3. to support by documentary evidence.

   to document a case.

4. Nautical.,  to provide (a vessel) with a certificate giving particulars concerning nationality, ownership, tonnage, dimensions, etc.

5. Obsolete.,  to instruct.

document

noun

1. a piece of paper, booklet, etc, providing information, esp of an official or legal nature

2. a piece of text or text and graphics stored in a computer as a file for manipulation by document processing software

3. archaic,  evidence; proof

verb

1. to record or report in detail, as in the press, on television, etc

   the trial was well documented by the media

2. to support (statements in a book) with citations, references, etc

3. to support (a claim, etc) with evidence or proof

4. to furnish (a vessel) with official documents specifying its ownership, registration, weight, dimensions, and function

Other Word Forms

• documentable adjective
• documenter noun
• nondocumented adjective
• redocument verb (used with object)
• well-documented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of document¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin documentum “example (as precedent, warning, etc.),” from doc(ēre) “to teach” + -u- (variant of -i- -i- before labials) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of document¹

C15: from Latin documentum a lesson, from docēre to teach

Example Sentences

The indictment also accuses Rozier, who is referred to as “Scary Terry” and “Chum” in court documents, and several other conspirators of knowing James would leave a March 2023 game early.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The PM also told the BBC digital ID could reduce banking fraud because it would make it harder for criminals to access private accounts using forged or stolen physical documents.

Read more on BBC

In a 32-page document, it asks people for their opinions on a range of council tax options because, according to Rob Wharton cabinet member for finance, the council is in a "very, very challenging situation".

Read more on BBC

At the time of his arrest, German prosecutors said Kuznietsov used forged identity documents to charter a yacht that departed from the German city of Rostock to carry out the attacks.

Read more on Barron's

The Westminster Mall opened in 1974 on the former site of the world’s largest goldfish farm, according to city documents.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• archive 
• certificate 
• diary 
• evidence 
• form 
• paper 
• record 
• report 
• script 
• testimony