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historical documents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
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
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The restaurant is north of the intersection of Beckwith Road and Golden Bear Gateway, according to planning documents.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
As ever, the film crew loomed, poised to document the moment.
—Anthony Shore, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for document
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The clips allegedly showed Hanson urinating on food, spitting into containers, stomping on food items and rubbing them on his body before they were served to customers, per court documents and reporting by KCTV5, KMBC 9 and The Kansas City Star.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The restaurant is north of the intersection of Beckwith Road and Golden Bear Gateway, according to planning documents.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Where appropriate, staff from both agencies will document the public programs through photography, video and audio.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
As ever, the film crew loomed, poised to document the moment.
—Anthony Shore, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for document
Cite this Entry
“Document.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/document. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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