Word

biography

noun C1

UK /baɪˈɒɡɹəfi/

US /baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/

Meanings

noun

a written account of someone’s life, created by another person

noun

a short description of a person’s life and career, often used for introductions

Definition

A biography is a book or text that tells the story of a real person’s life, written by someone else.

A biography is an account of a real person’s life written by another author. It usually covers major events, achievements, relationships, and the historical context around the person. Biographies often use research such as interviews, letters, and archives to build a detailed narrative.

Examples

I chose a biography of Marie Curie because it connects her discoveries to the pressures of her era.
She wrote a biography of her grandfather, using family photographs and recorded interviews to reconstruct his early years.
They discussed the biography in seminar, challenging the author’s interpretation of the subject’s motives.
He praised the biography for balancing personal detail with a clear explanation of the wider political context.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse biography (written by someone else) with autobiography (written by the person themselves).