non-fiction

non·fic·tion

[non-fik-shuhn]
noun
1.
the branch of literature comprising works of narrative prose dealing with or offering opinions or conjectures upon facts and reality, including biography, history, and the essay ( opposed to fiction and distinguished from poetry and drama ).
2.
works of this class: She had read all of his novels but none of his nonfiction.
3.
(especially in cataloging books, as in a library or bookstore) all writing or books not fiction, poetry, or drama, including nonfictive narrative prose and reference works; the broadest category of written works.

Origin:
1905–10; non- + fiction

non·fic·tion·al, adjective
non·fic·tion·al·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To non-fiction
Collins
World English Dictionary
nonfiction (ˌnɒnˈfɪkʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  writing dealing with facts and events rather than imaginative narration
2.  (modifier) relating to or denoting nonfiction
 
non'fictional
 
adj
 
non'fictionally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Non-fiction is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

non-fiction
1903 (implied in non-fictional), from non- + fiction.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT