Words / B2

dok-yoo-MENTR-ee/ˌdɒkjuˈmentri/

A documentary is a factual film or radio programme: a documentary about housing; a documentary maker. Feature film is fiction; news report is shorter. Documentary can be an adjective (documentary evidence). Do not call a two-minute clip a documentary. UK broadcasting: BBC documentaries as a genre.

Meaning

A film or radio programme that presents facts about a real subject.

Examples

• “The documentary followed three families through the housing waiting list.”
• “The documentary followed three families on the waiting list.”
• “Lawyers asked for documentary evidence, which is the adjective sense.”

Good to know

a documentary on/about. Adjective: documentary evidence. Fiction: feature film. Short news: a report. Not a brief clip.

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