biography
A detailed narrative of a person's life written by someone else, focusing on their experiences, achievements, and impact. Unlike a simple profile, it typically offers a critical and comprehensive analysis of the subject's historical and personal context.
Examples
3 of 5I just finished reading a fascinating biography of Steve Jobs that detailed his early struggles.
I have recently completed an interesting life story of Steve Jobs which covered his initial difficulties.
The committee requested a comprehensive biography of the candidate to evaluate their lifelong contributions to science.
The board asked for a full account of the person's life to assess their long-term scientific work.
Got any good biography recommendations? I'm looking for some real-life inspiration.
Do you have any suggestions for books about people's lives? I want to read something inspiring and true.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Bio' (life, like Biology) + 'Graphy' (writing, like Geography). It literally means 'Life-Writing'.
Quick Quiz
The historian spent ten years researching his ________ of Winston Churchill to ensure every detail was accurate.
Correct!
The correct answer is: biography
Examples
I just finished reading a fascinating biography of Steve Jobs that detailed his early struggles.
everydayI have recently completed an interesting life story of Steve Jobs which covered his initial difficulties.
The committee requested a comprehensive biography of the candidate to evaluate their lifelong contributions to science.
formalThe board asked for a full account of the person's life to assess their long-term scientific work.
Got any good biography recommendations? I'm looking for some real-life inspiration.
informalDo you have any suggestions for books about people's lives? I want to read something inspiring and true.
Modern academic biographies often utilize psychological frameworks to interpret the subject's motivations.
academicContemporary scholarly life accounts frequently use psychology to explain why the person acted as they did.
The CEO's official biography on the website highlights her previous experience in global logistics.
businessThe professional summary of the CEO's life on the site emphasizes her background in international shipping.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
a warts-and-all biography
a biography that shows both the good and bad aspects of a person
in-depth biography
an extremely detailed account of a person's life
literary biography
a biography of a writer that focuses on their work and creative process
Often Confused With
A biography is written by someone else; an autobiography is written by the subject themselves.
A biography is a life story, whereas a bibliography is a list of books or sources used in scholarly work.
Usage Notes
Use 'biography' for non-fiction accounts where the author is different from the subject. In C1 contexts, distinguish between 'authorized' (approved by the subject) and 'unauthorized' (often more critical or controversial).
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'biography' when they are describing their own life story; in that case, the correct term is 'autobiography'. They also occasionally confuse it with 'bibliography' due to the similar suffix.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Bio' (life, like Biology) + 'Graphy' (writing, like Geography). It literally means 'Life-Writing'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Greek 'bios' (life) and 'graphein' (to write).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western literature, 'unauthorized biographies' of celebrities or politicians are a major market and often spark legal or ethical debates regarding privacy.
Quick Quiz
The historian spent ten years researching his ________ of Winston Churchill to ensure every detail was accurate.
Correct!
The correct answer is: biography
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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