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Nonfiction: meaning, definitions and examples

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nonfiction

 

[ nɒnˈfɪkʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

literary genre

Nonfiction is a genre of writing that presents factual information and real events. Unlike fiction, which is created from the imagination, nonfiction is intended to inform or educate the reader about the real world, based on factual evidence and truth. It encompasses various forms, including essays, biographies, journalism, and more.

Synonyms

fact-based literature, informational writing, literary non-fiction.

Examples of usage

  • She prefers nonfiction books over novels.
  • The nonfiction article provided insightful information about climate change.
  • He is an expert in nonfiction writing, focusing on historical events.
  • Many students are required to read nonfiction for their course assignments.

Translations

Translations of the word "nonfiction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 não-ficção

🇮🇳 गैर-काल्पनिक

🇩🇪 Sachbuch

🇮🇩 non-fiksi

🇺🇦 неконфекційний

🇵🇱 literatura faktu

🇯🇵 ノンフィクション

🇫🇷 non-fiction

🇪🇸 no ficción

🇹🇷 kurgu dışı

🇰🇷 논픽션

🇸🇦 غير خيالي

🇨🇿 literatura faktu

🇸🇰 literatúra faktu

🇨🇳 非虚构

🇸🇮 literatura non-fikcije

🇮🇸 sannfræði

🇰🇿 көркем әдебиет емес

🇬🇪 არატექსტური

🇦🇿 bədii olmayan ədəbiyyat

🇲🇽 no ficción

Etymology

The term 'nonfiction' emerged in the early 20th century as a way to categorize works of literature that were based on factual accounts. The prefix 'non-' indicates negation, while 'fiction' derives from the Latin 'fictio', meaning 'the act of making, fashioning, or molding'. Thus, 'nonfiction' literally means that which is not fictional. The genre gained significant popularity with the rise of journalism and documentary styles in literature. Over time, nonfiction has evolved to cover a broad range of subjects, from personal memoirs to comprehensive histories and scientific discussions. This genre allows writers to express their voices while fulfilling the role of educators or informers.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,349, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.