non-fictional
Based on truth
Non-fictional describes works based on real events, people, or facts rather than imagination.
A non-fictional account of the war draws from historical records; a non-fictional book reports what actually happened.
The term contrasts with fictional: Is this story fictional or non-fictional?
More commonly written as nonfiction when used as a noun.
Written life account
- autobiographySelf-penned life narrative
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- historyRecord of past events
- journalismNews gathering and dissemination
reportage · essay · travelogue · exposé · chronicle · narrative · testimonial · account
Promoting knowledge or skill
- instructionalIntended to educate
- expositoryServing to explain
- encyclopedicCovering all branches of knowledge
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
how-to · guidebook · handbook · manual · textbook · primer · tutorial · self-help
Factual film about reality
- factualGrounded in truth
- truthfulAccurate and sincere
- accurateConforming to fact
- verifiableAble to be proven
authentic · evidence-based · objective · real-life · actual · substantiated · credible · reliable
biography
Written life account
- autobiographySelf-penned life narrative
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- historyRecord of past events
journalism · reportage · essay · travelogue · exposé · chronicle · narrative · testimonial · account · profile
educational
Promoting knowledge or skill
- instructionalIntended to educate
- expositoryServing to explain
- encyclopedicCovering all branches of knowledge
reference · how-to · guidebook · handbook · manual · textbook · primer · tutorial · self-help · cookbook
documentary
Factual film about reality
verifiable · authentic · evidence-based · objective · real-life · actual · substantiated · credible · reliable · verified
non-fictionalfictional
Not real, invented
fictitious · imaginary · made-up · invented · fabricated
non-fictionalfictional
Not real, invented
creative · speculative · concocted · imagined · fantasized
non-fictionalfictional
Not real, invented
imaginative · fantasy · make-believe · fantastical · speculative