document

1 of 2

noun

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-mənt How to pronounce document (audio)
-kyü-
1
law
a
archaic : proof, evidence
b
: an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something
c
: something (such as a photograph or a recording) that serves as evidence or proof
2
a
: a writing conveying information
financial documents
historical documents
a classified document that was leaked to the media
b
: a material substance (such as a coin or stone) having on it a representation of thoughts by means of some conventional mark or symbol
3
: a computer file containing information input by a computer user and usually created with an application (such as a spreadsheet or word processor)
create a new document
documental adjective

document

2 of 2

verb

doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-ˌment How to pronounce document (audio)
documented; documenting; documents

transitive verb

1
: to furnish documentary evidence of
documenting their claims
documenting gorillas in their natural habitat
2
: to furnish with documents
3
a
: to provide with factual or substantial support for statements made or a hypothesis proposed
charges that were well documented
document your claim
especially : to equip with exact references (see reference entry 1 sense 3b) to authoritative supporting information (as by means of footnotes)
failed to adequately document your sources
b(1)
: to construct or produce (something, such as a movie or novel) with authentic situations or events
(2)
: to portray realistically
documents the challenges of being a single parent
4
nautical : to furnish (a ship) with ship's papers
documentable
ˈdä-kyə-ˌmen-tə-bəl How to pronounce document (audio)
ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-
-kyü-
adjective
documenter noun

Examples of document in a Sentence

Noun It is important to keep all of your financial documents in a safe place. An important classified document has been leaked to the media. creating a new document on your computer I lost the document when the hard drive crashed. Verb Her study was the first to document this type of behavior in gorillas. He wrote a book documenting their struggle. Can you document the claims you're making? The charges are well documented.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Martin’s lawyer said in court documents that an old associate of Martin’s with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value. Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 It was first incorporated in California in April 2015, according to US court documents. Laura He, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 According to court documents, Pierce was accused of raping a production assistant from We’re Here — a television show bringing one-night-only drag shows to small communities across the U.S. — after purchasing several drinks for them. Ben Shimkus, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 And around the same time, several hundred voters formed a line outside the embassy in Riga, Latvia, despite the document checks carried out by local police. Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 According to local law, the governments must post the documents to the county’s website. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 The resident said people were forced to apply for Russian identity documents to receive social payments since early in the occupation, but new rules now require them to have Russian documents for everything from property titles of homes to drivers’ licenses. Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Aircraft manufacturer Airbus recommends all in-flight crew members perform such silent reviews on each flight, according to its safety documents. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Shi had learned that Lin was filing for divorce that afternoon, according to court documents. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Verb
Multiple studies have documented barriers that inhibit use. Judith Graham, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 Initially, the film was supposed to document how Daniels was reinventing herself, but Trump’s indictment changed everything. Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Since November — shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel that ignited the war in Gaza — the Defense Department has documented at least 105 attacks on merchant vessels off Yemen, including about 40 over the past week. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The next season documented their engagement in June 2018. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Having to document firefights and military pushback in her own backyard, however, has left her not just weary but haunted. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 For this work, Steven Byrum, a graduate student in my lab, was able to document the entire set of developmental stages using a total of 177 bonnethead shark embryos. Gareth J. Fraser, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 In recent years, the island has added new markers to document the history of civil rights era wade-ins and promoted a walking tour featuring contributions of Black residents to the island’s history and culture. Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 Animal keepers at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere also documented giraffes galloping during the brief moments in 2017 when the sky darkened in the middle of the day. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, precept, teaching, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin documentum official paper, from Latin, lesson, proof, from docēre to teach — more at docile

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of document was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near document

Cite this Entry

“Document.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/document. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

document

1 of 2 noun
doc·​u·​ment ˈdäk-yə-mənt How to pronounce document (audio)
1
: a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something
2
: a computer file usually created with an application program (as a word processor)

document

2 of 2 verb
doc·​u·​ment ˈdäk-yə-ˌment How to pronounce document (audio)
: to give evidence of by a document
documentable
ˈdäk-yə-ˌment-ə-bəl How to pronounce document (audio)
ˌdäk-yə-ˈment-
adjective

Legal Definition

document

1 of 2 noun
doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-mənt How to pronounce document (audio)
1
: a writing (as a deed or lease) conveying information see also instrument
2
a
: something (as a writing, photograph, or recording) that may be used as evidence
b
: an official paper (as a license) relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something (as a right or privilege)

document

2 of 2 transitive verb
doc·​u·​ment ˈdä-kyə-ˌment How to pronounce document (audio)
1
a
: to furnish documentary evidence of
b
: to provide with exact references to authoritative supporting information
2
: to furnish (as a ship) with documents (as ship's papers)

More from Merriam-Webster on document

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