doc·u·ment
ˈdä-kyə-mənt 
-kyü-
1
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historical documents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
c
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
doc·u·ment
ˈdä-kyə-ˌment
documented; documenting; documents
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
Synonyms
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
Jason Green, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
According to documents provided by the board, universities were directed not to include requests for more than 3% tuition hikes, which was the amount approved by the State Board.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2024
The Bureau of Land Management released more than 2,000 pages of documents in a draft environmental impact statement last week for the Rhyolite Ridge mine.
—Scott Sonner, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
He was indicted in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results and was indicted in Florida for keeping classified government documents, according to the Associated Press.
—Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
In December, Miami-Dade County police officers arrested two middle school boys for allegedly making and sharing fake nude A.I. images of two female classmates, ages 12 and 13, according to police documents obtained by The New York Times through a public records request.
—Natasha Singer, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Both are Cuban nationals with parolee status to stay in the United States, according to court documents.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Garfield had 42% greater criminal activity than the rest of Phoenix in 1990, which increased by 10% since 1975, according to Phoenix's city documents.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
After being taken to the Lake County Jail, court documents state that Zencka was placed initially in a holding cell with several men.
—Isabelle Kause, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Jordan Kinsey, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
In October 2022, Downey documented his kids shaving his head in a video posted on Instagram.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
In a new report, the center documented a staggering rise in followers for 10 prominent accounts on X that spread antisemitic content since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
—Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
International human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented the harmful effects of the ban.
—Enayat Nasir, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Since 2020, the ALA has documented at least 87 challenges to books from Hoosiers in Indiana, the sum of which vexes officials like Caldwell-Stone.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
In her past vlogs, the model documented her treatment while at the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, the ALA documented 4,240 works in schools and public libraries targeted.
—USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Legal aid groups documented hundreds of people who were jailed, faced job loss or suspension, or disciplinary proceedings at universities, often for social media posts that appeared to question Israel's invasion of Gaza.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
The theft was reported in February, when the victims’ daughter was preparing tax documents.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
According to documents provided by the board, universities were directed not to include requests for more than 3% tuition hikes, which was the amount approved by the State Board.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2024
The Bureau of Land Management released more than 2,000 pages of documents in a draft environmental impact statement last week for the Rhyolite Ridge mine.
—Scott Sonner, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
He was indicted in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results and was indicted in Florida for keeping classified government documents, according to the Associated Press.
—Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
In December, Miami-Dade County police officers arrested two middle school boys for allegedly making and sharing fake nude A.I. images of two female classmates, ages 12 and 13, according to police documents obtained by The New York Times through a public records request.
—Natasha Singer, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Both are Cuban nationals with parolee status to stay in the United States, according to court documents.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Garfield had 42% greater criminal activity than the rest of Phoenix in 1990, which increased by 10% since 1975, according to Phoenix's city documents.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
After being taken to the Lake County Jail, court documents state that Zencka was placed initially in a holding cell with several men.
—Isabelle Kause, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
For 68 days, Megan Kingsbury documented her sister's disappearance on TikTok.
—Jordan Kinsey, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
In October 2022, Downey documented his kids shaving his head in a video posted on Instagram.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
In a new report, the center documented a staggering rise in followers for 10 prominent accounts on X that spread antisemitic content since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
—Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
International human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented the harmful effects of the ban.
—Enayat Nasir, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Since 2020, the ALA has documented at least 87 challenges to books from Hoosiers in Indiana, the sum of which vexes officials like Caldwell-Stone.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
In her past vlogs, the model documented her treatment while at the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, the ALA documented 4,240 works in schools and public libraries targeted.
—USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Legal aid groups documented hundreds of people who were jailed, faced job loss or suspension, or disciplinary proceedings at universities, often for social media posts that appeared to question Israel's invasion of Gaza.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 9 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near document
Cite this Entry
“Document.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/document. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
document
1 of 2 noun
doc·u·ment
ˈdäk-yə-mənt
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)
Legal Definition
document
1 of 2 noun
doc·u·ment
ˈdä-kyə-mənt
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
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)
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