commentary
noun
com·men·tary
ˈkä-mən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
plural commentaries
1
a
: an explanatory treatise
—usually used in plural
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England
b
: a record of events usually written by a participant
—usually used in plural
Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War
2
a
: a systematic series of explanations or interpretations (as of a writing)
a commentary on Dante's Divine Comedy
b
3
a
: something that serves for illustration or explanation
The dark, airless apartments and sunless factories … are a sad commentary upon our civilization.—
Harry Allen Overstreet
Harry Allen Overstreet
b
: an expression of opinion
The magazine article is a commentary on cyberbullying.
Examples of commentary in a Sentence
The television show features political commentary by well-known journalists.
The magazine includes humor and social commentary.
The book is a commentary on her experiences abroad.
I like listening to his social commentaries.
He provided commentary during the game.
The major television stations provided running commentaries on the election results.
Recent Examples on the Web
Following a heated presidential contest, political coverage and commentary can feel unavoidable.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024
Throughout Election Day and well into the night, New Yorker reporters and columnists will provide news coverage and commentary on our live blog.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
His political commentary online often can feel the same way.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Conditioned by partisan commentary to anticipate such corruption, many voters may come to distrust the official vote count, suspecting fraud in the voting rolls, including voting by noncitizens or even by the deceased.
—Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commentary 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024
Throughout Election Day and well into the night, New Yorker reporters and columnists will provide news coverage and commentary on our live blog.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
His political commentary online often can feel the same way.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Conditioned by partisan commentary to anticipate such corruption, many voters may come to distrust the official vote count, suspecting fraud in the voting rolls, including voting by noncitizens or even by the deceased.
—Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commentary
Dictionary Entries Near commentary
Cite this Entry
“Commentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commentary. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commentary
noun
com·men·tary
ˈkäm-ən-ˌter-ē
plural commentaries
: a series of comments or notes
also
: a book made up of such material
—usually used in plural
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