documentary
UK: ˌdɒkjʊˈmentəri | US: ˌdɑːkjʊˈmentəri
n. a factual film or television program about a real-world subject
adj. consisting of or derived from documents; providing a factual record
The word "documentary" originates from the Latin documentum (meaning "lesson, proof"), derived from docere ("to teach"). The suffix -ary (from Latin -arius) forms adjectives indicating "related to." Initially used in the 19th century to describe factual records, it later specialized in the early 20th century to refer to non-fiction films, popularized by filmmaker John Grierson. The morphemes reflect a logical progression: document (evidence) + -ary (pertaining to) → "pertaining to factual records."
The documentary exposed the environmental impact of plastic waste.
She prefers documentary films over fictional dramas.
The museum displayed documentary evidence of the ancient trade routes.
His research included analyzing documentary sources from the 18th century.
The director won an award for her groundbreaking documentary on climate change.