biography
noun
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So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography
In a library, the word biography refers both to a kind of book and to a section where books of that kind are found. Each biography tells the story of a real person's life. A biography may be about someone who lived long ago, recently, or even someone who is still living, though in the last case it must necessarily be incomplete. The term autobiography refers to a biography written by the person it's about. Autobiographies are of course also necessarily incomplete.
Sometimes biographies are significantly shorter than a book—something anyone who's been asked to submit a biography for, say, a conference or a community newsletter will be glad to know. Often the word in these contexts is shortened to bio, a term that can be both a synonym of biography and a term for what is actually a biographical sketch: a brief description of a person's life. These kinds of biographies—bios—vary, but many times they are only a few sentences long. Looking at bios that have been used in the same context can be a useful guide in determining what to put in your own.
Examples of biography in a Sentence
Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
The book The History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri includes brief biographies of the pioneers that migrated to the area in the early days of settlement, including mention of Zadock Martin, the pioneer that built a dam on the Platte River with his sons.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Artist's biography Greek photographer Michael Pappas is conducting an extensive survey on Greek women's costumes of the 21st century, documenting the evolution of traditional and contemporary styles through photography.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2024
Instead, despite its readability, Martin’s biography did little to reinsert Perkins into the public consciousness.
—Rebecca Brenner Graham / Made By History, TIME, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biography 
Dictionary Entries Near biography
Cite this Entry
“Biography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biography. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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biography
noun
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