definition of biography brainly

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of biography

Did you know.

So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography

In a library, the word biography refers both to a kind of book and to a section where books of that kind are found. Each biography tells the story of a real person's life. A biography may be about someone who lived long ago, recently, or even someone who is still living, though in the last case it must necessarily be incomplete. The term autobiography refers to a biography written by the person it's about. Autobiographies are of course also necessarily incomplete.

Sometimes biographies are significantly shorter than a book—something anyone who's been asked to submit a biography for, say, a conference or a community newsletter will be glad to know. Often the word in these contexts is shortened to bio , a term that can be both a synonym of biography and a term for what is actually a biographical sketch: a brief description of a person's life. These kinds of biographies—bios—vary, but many times they are only a few sentences long. Looking at bios that have been used in the same context can be a useful guide in determining what to put in your own.

Examples of biography in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Late Greek biographia , from Greek bi- + -graphia -graphy

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Dictionary Entries Near biography

biographize

Cite this Entry

“Biography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biography. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of biography, more from merriam-webster on biography.

Nglish: Translation of biography for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of biography for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about biography

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Plural and possessive names: a guide, 31 useful rhetorical devices, more commonly misspelled words, absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, 7 shakespearean insults to make life more interesting, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 9 superb owl words, games & quizzes.

Definition of Biography

Common examples of biographical subjects.

As a literary device, biography is important because it allows readers to learn about someone’s story and history. This can be enlightening, inspiring, and meaningful in creating connections. Here are some common examples of biographical subjects:

Famous Examples of Biographical Works

Difference between biography, autobiography, and memoir.

A biography is an informational narrative and account of the life history of an individual person, written by someone who is not the subject of the biography. An autobiography is the story of an individual’s life, written by that individual. In general, an autobiography is presented chronologically with a focus on key events in the person’s life. Since the writer is the subject of an autobiography, it’s written in the first person and considered more subjective than objective, like a biography. In addition, autobiographies are often written late in the person’s life to present their life experiences, challenges, achievements, viewpoints, etc., across time.

Examples of Biography in Literature

An important subset of biography is literary biography. A literary biography applies biographical study and form to the lives of artists and writers. This poses some complications for writers of literary biographies in that they must balance the representation of the biographical subject, the artist or writer, as well as aspects of the subject’s literary works. This balance can be difficult to achieve in terms of judicious interpretation of biographical elements within an author’s literary work and consideration of the separate spheres of the artist and their art.

Example 1:  Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay  (Nancy Milford)

One of the first things Vincent explained to Norma was that there was a certain freedom of language in the Village that mustn’t shock her. It wasn’t vulgar. ‘So we sat darning socks on Waverly Place and practiced the use of profanity as we stitched. Needle in, . Needle out, piss. Needle in, . Needle out, c. Until we were easy with the words.’

Example 2:  The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens  (Claire Tomalin)

The season of domestic goodwill and festivity must have posed a problem to all good Victorian family men with more than one family to take care of, particularly when there were two lots of children to receive the demonstrations of paternal love.

Example 3:  Virginia Woolf  (Hermione Lee)

‘A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living’: so too with the biography of that self. And just as lives don’t stay still, so life-writing can’t be fixed and finalised. Our ideas are shifting about what can be said, our knowledge of human character is changing. The biographer has to pioneer, going ‘ahead of the rest of us, like the miner’s canary, testing the atmosphere , detecting falsity, unreality, and the presence of obsolete conventions’. So, ‘There are some stories which have to be retold by each generation’. She is talking about the story of Shelley, but she could be talking about her own life-story.

Post navigation

English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

Biography: A Literary Genre

The literary device of biography involves the meticulous construction of a narrative that captures the essence of an individual’s life through various literary techniques.

Etymology of Biography

Table of Contents

The term, biography, originates from the combination of two ancient Greek words: bios meaning “life” and graphein meaning “to write.” The word first appeared in the English language in the late 17th century, derived from the French word biographie. Its etymology reflects the essence of the genre , which involves the written account or narrative of an individual’s life.

Meanings of Biography

Biography has different meanings in different contexts. Here are some possible meanings.

• Written Account: Refers to a written account or narrative of a person’s life, detailing their experiences, achievements, and challenges.
• Comprehensive Exploration: Involves a comprehensive exploration of an individual’s personal and professional journey , offering insights into their character, motivations, and societal impact.
• Literary Genre: Describes the genre of literature or non-fiction writing that focuses on writing biographical accounts.
• Broader Scope: Can encompass any detailed study or examination of a person’s life, including audiovisual presentations, documentaries, or oral histories.
• Figurative Usage: Used metaphorically to describe the compilation or documentation of information about non-human entities, such as the biography of a company or an animal species, providing an understanding of their origins, development, and significance.

Definition of Literary Device of Biography

The literary device of biography involves the meticulous construction of a narrative that captures the essence of an individual’s life through various literary techniques. It uses characterization to portray the subject’s personality, motivations, and inner conflicts. It utilizes techniques such as direct and indirect characterization, dialogue, and anecdotal evidence.

Types of Biograph ies

Please note that these are general descriptions, and there may be some overlap or variations within each type of biography.

Literary Examples of Biographies

These biographies provide unique insights into the lives, experiences, and contributions of the individuals they feature, shedding light on historical events, social issues, and the complexities of human existence.

Suggested Readings about Biographies

• A xelrod, Alan, and Charles R. Cooper. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing Biography . Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.
• Le, Hermoine. Biography: A Very Short Introduction . Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Lejeune, Philippe. On Autobiography . University of Minnesota Press, 1989.
• Smith, Sidonie, and Julia Watson. Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives . University of Minnesota Press, 2001.
• Spengemann, William C. The Forms of Autobiography: Episodes in the History of a Literary Genre . Yale University Press, 1980.

Related posts:

• Onomatopoeia: A Literary Device

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Look up a word, learn it forever.

/baɪˈɑgrəfi/, /baɪˈɒgrəfi/.

Other forms: biographies

A biography is an account of somebody's life written by somebody else, complete with details of the most important parts.

These days, anyone, of any age, can be the subject of a biography: Justin Bieber, at the tender age of 17, had one written about his life. A biography is not to be confused with an autobiography, an account of someone's life written by the subject himself. You'll find biographies in printed form (remember books?), but also increasingly in the form of e-books, TV dramatizations, and cinematic "bio-docs."

• noun an account of the series of events making up a person's life synonyms: life , life history , life story see more see less examples: Parallel Lives a collection of biographies of famous pairs of Greeks and Romans written by Plutarch; used by Shakespeare in writing some of his plays types: show 4 types... hide 4 types... autobiography a biography of yourself hagiography a biography that idealizes or idolizes the person (especially a person who is a saint) profile biographical sketch memoir an account of the author's personal experiences type of: account , chronicle , history , story a record or narrative description of past events

Vocabulary lists containing biography

Are you ready to learn the facts of life? Then review these words from the Greek root bio , meaning "life" or "way of living."

Practice this vocabulary list and explore words that contain the Greek roots graph ("write/writing") and gram ("written thing").

To improve your fluency in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), learn this academic vocabulary list that includes words selected from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards.

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement..

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of biography in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• This biography offers a few glimpses of his life before he became famous .
• Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought .
• The biography was a bit of a rush job .
• The biography is an attempt to uncover the inner man.
• The biography is woven from the many accounts which exist of things she did.
• multi-volume
• young adult

biography | Intermediate English

• biographical

Examples of biography

Translations of biography.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

serious and determined, especially too serious and unable to find your own actions funny

Simply the best! (Ways to describe the best)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

To add biography to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add biography to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• Britannica Homepage
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Core Vocabulary
• Most Popular
• Browse the Dictionary
• My Saved Words
• biography (noun)
• a new biography of Abraham Lincoln

— biographer

• Lincoln's biographers [=people who wrote biographies of Lincoln]

• About Us & Legal Info
• Partner Program
• Privacy Notice
• Terms of Use
• Pronunciation Symbols

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of biography noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

Nearby words

Novlr is now writer-owned! Join us and shape the future of creative writing.

What is a biography?

An account of someone's life written by another person., the story of someone's life: understanding biography in a creative sense.

Biography is a literary genre that focuses on the story of someone's life, written by another person. This type of writing often involves research, interviews, and a deep understanding of the subject's personality, experiences, and motivations.

In a creative writing context, biography can be a powerful tool for developing characters and understanding the arc of a story. By exploring the lives of others, we gain insight into the human experience and can use this knowledge to enrich our own work.

Furthermore, biography can be an excellent way to improve our grammar and language skills. As we research and write about historical figures, we are exposed to a rich vocabulary and must hone our ability to describe complex events and emotions. In this sense, biography can be both a literary and a linguistic exercise.

Biography is a genre that has been used widely throughout literary history, both in non-fiction and fictional works. Here are two examples of how biography is used in literature to add depth and nuance to the storytelling.

In her autobiography Becoming, Michelle Obama reflects on her life journey and how she came to be the woman that the world knows today. Through candid and personal anecdotes, she shares her experiences, struggles, and triumphs, providing a valuable insight into her character and the events that have shaped her.

Colm Tóibín's The Master is a fictionalized account of the life of Henry James - a renowned American-British writer. In it, Tóibín explores James's quirky personality, his social anxieties, and his literary ambitions, providing a fascinating glimpse into the mind of this literary giant.

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Your kidneys do many important jobs. Some of the ways they keep your whole body in balance include:

• Removing natural waste products and extra water from your body
• Helping make red blood cells
• Balancing important minerals in your body
• Helping maintain your blood pressure
• Keeping your bones healthy

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys have become damaged over time (for at least 3 months) and have a hard time doing all their important jobs. CKD also increases the risk of other health problems like heart disease and stroke. Developing CKD is usually a very slow process with very few symptoms at first. So, CKD is divided into 5 stages to help guide treatment decisions.

Your kidney health is unique. Your path should be too.

Stages of ckd.

CKD is evaluated using two simple tests – a blood test known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a urine test known as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) . Both tests are needed to have a clear picture of your kidney health. When identifying your CKD stage, these tests usually need to be repeated to confirm long-term damage (lasting 3 months or more).

Stage 1 CKD

eGFR 90 or higher and kidney damage (e.g. uACR 30 or higher) for 3 months or more

Stage 2 CKD

eGFR 60-89 and kidney damage (e.g. uACR 30 or higher) for 3 months or more

Stage 3a CKD

Mild to moderate loss of kidney function (eGFR 45-59 for 3 months or more)

Stage 3b CKD

Moderate to severe loss of kidney function (eGFR 30-44 for 3 months or more)

Stage 4 CKD

Severe loss of kidney function (eGFR 15-29 for 3 months or more)

Stage 5 CKD

Kidney failure (eGFR less than 15 for 3 months or more) or you are on dialysis

Having an eGFR less than 60 and/or a uACR higher than 30 for three months or more is a sign you may have kidney disease.

Honor a Hero. Save a life.

On this special day of giving, we honor the many kidney community heroes leading the fight against kidney disease with acts of courage, compassion, support and hope. People like YOU powering NKF’s work and lifechanging progress for every loved one affected by kidney disease. Who will you honor?

CKD Risk Factors

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Heart disease and/or heart failure

Obesity   (having a body mass index or BMI of 30 or more)

Over the age of 60

Family history of CKD or kidney failure

Personal history of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Smoking and/or use of tobacco products

Anyone can develop CKD – at any age. However, people with one or more of the risk factors above are more likely than others to develop CKD.  Usually, developing CKD is not due to any single reason, but because of a combination of physical, environmental, and  social factors . Early detection is important – CKD often begins without causing any obvious symptoms. Knowing the risk factors can help you know your level of risk and if you should get checked for CKD.

Take this  one-minute quiz  to find out if you are at high risk for CKD.

The Kidney Disease, Heart Disease, and Diabetes Connection

Watch some short, animated videos and learn about:

• What happens in your body when you have kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and/or diabetes
• How each condition affects the others
• Tips for lowering your risk of complications

Kidney failure

Having kidney failure means that 85% to 90% of your kidney function is gone and your kidneys don't work well enough to keep you alive. There is no cure for kidney failure, but it is possible to live a long and full life with treatment. Having kidney failure is serious but with treatment , many people with kidney failure continue to have full, active lives doing things they love.

This content is provided for informational use only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for the medical advice of a healthcare professional.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Styles Group Chat

Just How Demure Are You?

A TikTok trend has breathed new life into a fusty word.

By The Styles Desk

If you opened TikTok this week and felt that suddenly everyone was using the word “demure” out of nowhere, you’re not alone.

Your morning coffee with just a little half-and-half? Demure. The way you sit down gracefully on the subway? Very demure. The way you floss your teeth after lunch in the office bathroom before returning to your cubicle? Absolutely, totally demure.

Seemingly overnight, an adjective usually reserved for a reserved woman has become the semi-ironic word du jour on social media.

On Aug. 2, a TikTok creator who goes by the name Jools Lebron posted a video with tips about managing makeup and mustache sweat and being demure.

Later that day, she posted another video , which has been viewed four million times, offering tips on how to be demure at work. “Very demure, very mindful," she says, explaining her perfume, clothing and hairstyle choices for the workplace. Ms. Lebron has since posted dozens more such videos discussing how to be demure in all sorts of situations, like nail salons, hotels and drag shows.

Ms. Lebron, who did not respond to requests for comment, is one of several trans creators on TikTok whose playful use of “demure” in recent videos has helped the word catch on with other users.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .