essayistic

[ es-ey-is-tik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like an essay, especially in style, format, or organization and often in reflecting a more personal approach than a treatise, thesis, or the like.
2. resembling formal exposition.
3. expository; discursive; explanatory.

Word History and Origins

Origin of essayistic¹

First recorded in 1860–65; essay + -istic

Example Sentences

The parts of power that have something in common with “Strong Island” are really centered around the first-person voice that I bring to the film, this kind of essayistic, intimate conversation that I'm looking to have with the audience.

From Salon

But also I really loved how Nellie was going about this story, which was kind of more essayistic.

From Salon

For Peck, best known for his essayistic James Baldwin documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” made in 2017, Lumumba is a mythic figure.

From New York Times

In Taipei-born filmmaker S. Leo Chiang’s essayistic short, that island — battle-scarred, mythical and touristy — is also a symbol of his mixed feelings about nationality.

From Los Angeles Times

Written and directed by the Spanish-born philosopher and activist Paul B. Preciado — a trans man making his feature directing debut — the movie is, at its simplest, an essayistic documentary about transgender and nonbinary identity that draws inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s novel “Orlando: A Biography.”

From New York Times