What does "anecdote" mean?
A short account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting.
Anecdote
/ˈæn.ɪkˌdəʊt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting.
- Grammar: anecdote is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: account, chronicle, description, epic.
- Useful contrasts: danish stat, evidential source, observational datum.
- Usage evidence: He began his lecture with a humorous anecdote.
How to use "anecdote"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "anecdote" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "anecdote" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "anecdote" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "anecdote" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "anecdote", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting. countable, uncountable
"tell an anecdote"
- 2 short account of an incident (especially a biographical one) wordnet
- 3 An account which supports an argument, but which is not supported by scientific or statistical analysis. countable, uncountable
- 4 A previously untold secret account of an incident. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To tell anecdotes (about). ambitransitive
"They were all men of the same set, knowing one another intimately, and knowing the same people; so they fell to talking and anecdoting in such pleasant wise that dinner-time approached […]"
Antonyms
danish statevidential sourceobservational datumscientific research
Example
"He began his lecture with a humorous anecdote."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "anecdote"?
Common synonyms include: account, chronicle, description, epic, example, fiction.
How do you use "anecdote" in a sentence?
He began his lecture with a humorous anecdote.
How do you pronounce "anecdote"?
Pronounced /ˈæn.ɪkˌdəʊt/.
Etymology
Late 17ᵗʰ c., from French anecdote, from Ancient Greek ἀνέκδοτος (anékdotos, “accounts unpublished”), from ἀν- (an-, “not, un-”) + ἔκδοτος (ékdotos, “published”), from ἐκδίδωμι (ekdídōmi, “I publish”), from ἐκ- (ek-, “out”) + δίδωμι (dídōmi, “I give”). Virtually identical cognates in other European languages – French anecdote, German Anekdote, Spanish anécdota, among others.