biography meaning english to english

Forum discussions with the word(s) "biography" in the title:

In other languages: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

• Britannica Homepage
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Core Vocabulary
• Most Popular
• Browse the Dictionary
• My Saved Words
• biography (noun)
• a new biography of Abraham Lincoln

— biographer

• Lincoln's biographers [=people who wrote biographies of Lincoln]

• About Us & Legal Info
• Partner Program
• Privacy Notice
• Terms of Use
• Pronunciation Symbols

Definition of Biography

Common examples of biographical subjects, famous examples of biographical works, difference between biography, autobiography, and memoir, examples of biography in literature, example 1:  savage beauty: the life of edna st. vincent millay  (nancy milford).

One of the first things Vincent explained to Norma was that there was a certain freedom of language in the Village that mustn’t shock her. It wasn’t vulgar. ‘So we sat darning socks on Waverly Place and practiced the use of profanity as we stitched. Needle in, . Needle out, piss. Needle in, . Needle out, c. Until we were easy with the words.’

Example 2:  The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens  (Claire Tomalin)

The season of domestic goodwill and festivity must have posed a problem to all good Victorian family men with more than one family to take care of, particularly when there were two lots of children to receive the demonstrations of paternal love.

Example 3:  Virginia Woolf  (Hermione Lee)

‘A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living’: so too with the biography of that self. And just as lives don’t stay still, so life-writing can’t be fixed and finalised. Our ideas are shifting about what can be said, our knowledge of human character is changing. The biographer has to pioneer, going ‘ahead of the rest of us, like the miner’s canary, testing the atmosphere , detecting falsity, unreality, and the presence of obsolete conventions’. So, ‘There are some stories which have to be retold by each generation’. She is talking about the story of Shelley, but she could be talking about her own life-story.

Post navigation

Meaning of "biography" in the English dictionary

Pronunciation of biography, grammatical category of biography, what does biography mean in english.

Definition of biography in the English dictionary

The definition of biography in the dictionary is an account of a person's life by another. Other definition of biography is such accounts collectively.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH BIOGRAPHY

Words that begin like biography, words that end like biography, synonyms and antonyms of biography in the english dictionary of synonyms, synonyms of «biography», words relating to «biography», translation of «biography» into 25 languages.

TRANSLATION OF BIOGRAPHY

Translator english - chinese, translator english - spanish, translator english - hindi, translator english - arabic, translator english - russian, translator english - portuguese, translator english - bengali, translator english - french, translator english - malay, translator english - german, translator english - japanese, translator english - korean, translator english - javanese, translator english - vietnamese, translator english - tamil, translator english - marathi, translator english - turkish, translator english - italian, translator english - polish, translator english - ukrainian, translator english - romanian, translator english - greek, translator english - afrikaans, translator english - swedish, translator english - norwegian, trends of use of biography, tendencies of use of the term «biography».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «BIOGRAPHY» OVER TIME

Examples of use in the english literature, quotes and news about biography, 10 quotes with «biography», 10 english books relating to «biography», 10 news items which include the term «biography».

How to Write Biography in English?

By: EnglishCentral Intern 1

Writing a biography is the process of documenting a person’s life journey, experiences, and impact. It involves a detailed exploration of their personal and professional history, motivations, and character. A well written biography can provide valuable insights into the subject’s life, their contributions to society, and the histories, but they can also be written about people who have had a significant impact on the author’s life or on the lives of others. You can continue reading our article to learn how to write a biography and what it is.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is a written account of a person’s life. It can be long or short, and it can focus on any aspect of the person’s life, from their personal relationships to their professional achievements. Biographies are often written about famous individuals, historical figures, or people who have made significant contributions to society. They serve to provide insights into the person’s character, experiences, and impact on the world.

What Is the Purpose of a Biography?

Biographies can serve a variety of purposes. They can educate readers about the lives of important people, inspire them to follow their dreams, or simply entertain them with a fascinating story. Biographies can also be used to teach readers about different cultures, time periods, and historical events.

What Are the Main Features of a Biography?

A good biography should include the following elements:

Accuracy: The biography should be based on factual information and should be well-researched.

Completeness: The biography should provide a well-rounded overview of the person’s life, including their strengths and weaknesses, their successes and failures, and their personal and professional relationships.

Objectivity: The biography should be written in an objective and unbiased manner. The author should avoid expressing their personal opinions or beliefs about the subject.

Engagement: The biography should be written in an engaging and interesting way. The author should use vivid language and storytelling techniques to capture the reader’s attention.

Types of Biographies

There are many different types of biographies, including:

Traditional biographies: These biographies cover the entire life of the subject, from their birth to their death. “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson is a traditional biography that covers the entire life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, from his birth to his death. It explores his personal life, career, and the impact he had on the technology industry.

Thematic biographies: These biographies focus on a specific aspect of the subject’s life, such as their career, their personal relationships, or their political beliefs. “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” by Edmund Morris focuses on a specific aspect of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, namely his early political career and rise to the presidency.

Autobiographies: These biographies are written by the subject themselves. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley written by Malcolm X himself. It offers insights into his personal journey, activism, and transformation.

Authorized biographies: These biographies are written by someone who has the subject’s permission to do so. “My Life” by Bill Clinton is an authorized biography of former U.S. President Bill Clinton was written with his cooperation and permission, providing an in-depth look at his life and political career.

Unauthorized biographies: These biographies are written without the subject’s permission. “The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe” by Sarah Churchwell. This biography was written without Marilyn Monroe’s permission and delves into her life, career, and the complexities surrounding her public image.

8 Tips on How to Write a Biography

Choose a subject that you are interested in and passionate about: When selecting a subject for your biography, opt for someone or something that genuinely piques your curiosity and passion. This is important because writing a biography is a long process.

Obtain permission if writing an authorized biography: If you plan to write an authorized biography, which is a biography written with the subject’s permission, it’s essential to secure their consent. This typically involves a formal agreement or understanding with their subject or their representatives. Without permission, you may face legal and ethical issues.

Do your research: Research is the foundation of a well crafted biography. Delve into a wide range of sources, including books, articles, interviews and personal correspondence related to the subject. The goal is to gather as much information as possible to verify facts and details about the subject’s life.

Develop a thesis statement: This is a brief statement that summarizes the main point of your biography. It should summarize what you want to convey about the subject’s life and why it’s important or interesting.

Create an outline: This will help you to organize your thoughts and ensure that your biography is well-structured. Your outline should include key events, milestones and the sequence in which you will present them. This can help prevent you from getting lost in the wealth of information you have gathered.

Write in a clear and concise style: Avoid using jargon or overly complicated sentences. Instead, aim for a writing style that is straightforward and easy to understand.

Use vivid language and storytelling techniques: Bring your subject’s life to life for the reader. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the subject’s experience and the historical context.

Proofread carefully: Make sure to check for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. The errors can distract the reader and the quality of your writing.

20 Famous Examples of Biographies

Here are some famous examples of biographies:

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston

Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill by William Manchester and Paul Reid

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Write Biography in English

What is a biography?

A well-written biography can provide valuable insights into the subject’s life, their contributions to society, and the historical context in which they lived.

What is the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

A biography is written by someone about another person’s life. An autobiography is written by someone about their own life.

What is the difference between a biography and a historical fiction?

A biography is an accurate account of a person’s life. Historical fiction is a fictional story set in a historical time period.

What are some famous examples of biography?

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Would you like to put what you have learned into practice? You can access everything you need to learn English on a single platform! With 25-minute one-on-one live English lessons , 40-minute group lessons, more than 30,000 interactive videos, vocabulary learning tools, AI-supported tutor MiMi, quizzes, and interactive activities, EnglishCentral offers its users a personalized and quality education plan at an affordable price. How about registering for EnglishCentral now and starting to learn English ?

How to Write a Biography in English With Example

At some point in your education career, you will be asked to write a biography about yourself or someone else. Writing a biography is not a difficult task if you know what biography is then you can easily write. If you don’t know how to write a biography in English, read carefully the following article.

How to Write a Biography in English

A biography is a detailed description or account of a person’s life. It entails more than basic facts (education, work, relationship, and death). A biography also explains the subject’s experience of these events. Like a profile or curriculum vitae (resume).

A biography presents a subject’s life story, highlighting various aspects of his or her life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of a subject’s personality.

Biographical works are usually non-fiction, but fiction can also be used to portray a person’s life. One in-depth form of biographical coverage is called legacy writing. Biographical works in diverse media—from literature to film—from the genre known as a biography.

Biography of General Muhammad Musa

General Musa Khan Hazara (H.PK., HJ, HQA, MBE, PSC 1908 – 1991) was the commander in chief of Pakistan Army. He succeeded Filed Marshal Ayub Khan, who assumed the presidency of Pakistan.

He was the eldest son of Sardar Yazdan Khan, born on 20 October 1908 in a Hazara Shia Muslim family in Quetta. He was from the Sardar family of the Hazara tribe in Baluchistan, Pakistan. He was a Naik (Junior Non-commissioned Office) in the 106 th Hazara Pioneers, went to the Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun as a cadet, and graduated with the first batch of British Indian commissioned officer on 1 February 1935.

He was posted to the 6 th Royal Battalion, the 13 th frontier Force Rifles as a platoon commander in 1936. He took part in the Waziristan Operations in 1936-1938 and in World War 2, where he served in North Africa. He served with distinction in the Pakistan Army and rose to the rank of the commander in chief of Pakistan Armed Forces during President Muhammad Ayub Khan’s regime (1958-1969).

His promotion to commander in chief saw the suppression of two seniors: Major General Sher Ali Khan and Major General Latif Khan, both Sandhurst graduated in 1933.

General Muhammad Musa commanded the Army in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 and had overall responsibility for operations throughout the conflict. As army chief, he was criticized for not anticipating an assault across the international border. However, he was given credit for blunting the Indian offensive towards Sialkot during the Battle of Chawinda.

He has narrated the events and experiences of the war his book” My Vision”. In the book, he was given accounts of the secret war that was going on in Kashmir between the two countries, long before the real war actually began.

General Musa is the author or his autobiography, “Jawan to General” in which he describes his life experiences from a simple foot-soldier rising to the rank of a general.

After the retirement from Pakistan Army, President Ayub Khan appointed him as the Governor of West Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from 1967 to 1979. After serving for few years, he retired and settled in Karachi.

In 1987, he was once again involved in politics. He was appointed as Governor of Baluchistan Province by then president General Zia-ul-Haq. In Baluchistan, Governor General (Retd) Musa dissolved the provincial assembly in December 1988. However, the Baluchistan High court restored the assembly amid public condemnation of Governor’s move. The step towards dissolving the assembly was believed to have been taken with the consent to the president and prime minister.

He died on 12 March 1991 at Governor House in Quetta.

Conclusion:

I hope now you know how to write a biography in English. If you have any question please don’t hesitate to comment it in the comment section below.

Also, read:  How To Write An Autobiography In English

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related posts

Stop people posting personal stuff on linkedin, how to write a speech about yourself, 10 daily activities of successful students, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Related terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 1.5 Anagrams

From New Latin biographia , formed from Ancient Greek βίος ( bíos , “ life ” ) + γράφω ( gráphō , “ write ” ) .

Pronunciation

• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /baɪˈɒɡɹəfi/
• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/

• Rhymes: -ɒɡɹəfi

biography ( countable and uncountable , plural biographies )

• A person's life story , especially one published. There are many biographies of Benjamin Franklin.
• The art of writing this kind of story.

Derived terms

• antibiography
• autobiography
• biographette
• biographize
• biomythography
• blogography
• heterobiography
• minibiography
• osteobiography
• photobiography
• psychobiography

Related terms

• biographical
• biographism
• hagiography
• pathography

Translations

biography ( third-person singular simple present biographies , present participle biographying , simple past and past participle biographied )

• ( transitive ) To write a biography of.

• English terms borrowed from New Latin
• English terms derived from New Latin
• English terms derived from Ancient Greek
• English 4-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English terms with audio links
• Rhymes:English/ɒɡɹəfi
• Rhymes:English/ɒɡɹəfi/4 syllables
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English uncountable nouns
• English countable nouns
• English terms with usage examples
• English verbs
• English transitive verbs
• English terms suffixed with -graphy
• en:Literary genres
• English entries with language name categories using raw markup
• Pages with 1 entry
• Terms with Albanian translations
• Terms with Arabic translations
• Armenian terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Armenian translations
• Terms with Asturian translations
• Terms with Azerbaijani translations
• Belarusian terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Belarusian translations
• Bulgarian terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Bulgarian translations
• Terms with Catalan translations
• Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations
• Terms with Mandarin translations
• Terms with Coptic translations
• Terms with Czech translations
• Terms with Danish translations
• Terms with Dutch translations
• Terms with Esperanto translations
• Terms with Estonian translations
• Terms with Faroese translations
• Terms with Finnish translations
• Terms with French translations
• Terms with Galician translations
• Georgian terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Georgian translations
• Terms with German translations
• Terms with Greek translations
• Terms with Haitian Creole translations
• Terms with Hebrew translations
• Terms with Hindi translations
• Terms with Hungarian translations
• Terms with Indonesian translations
• Terms with Irish translations
• Terms with Italian translations
• Japanese terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Japanese translations
• Terms with Kalmyk translations
• Terms with Korean translations
• Terms with Kyrgyz translations
• Terms with Lao translations
• Terms with Latin translations
• Terms with Latvian translations
• Terms with Lithuanian translations
• Terms with Macedonian translations
• Terms with Maori translations
• Terms with Mongolian translations
• Terms with Nepali translations
• Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations
• Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations
• Terms with Occitan translations
• Terms with Ottoman Turkish translations
• Terms with Persian translations
• Terms with Polish translations
• Terms with Portuguese translations
• Terms with Punjabi translations
• Terms with Romanian translations
• Terms with Russian translations
• Terms with Scottish Gaelic translations
• Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations
• Terms with Slovak translations
• Terms with Slovene translations
• Terms with Spanish translations
• Terms with Swedish translations
• Requests for translations into Tamil
• Terms with Thai translations
• Terms with Turkish translations
• Ukrainian terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Ukrainian translations
• Uyghur terms with redundant script codes
• Terms with Uyghur translations
• Terms with Vietnamese translations
• Terms with Welsh translations
• Terms with Yiddish translations

Navigation menu

Learning Materials

• Business Studies
• Combined Science
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• English Literature
• Environmental Science
• Human Geography
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics

Imagine what it would be like to experience someone else's life. To relive the life of someone who has accomplished things or has experiences that stand out as unique and exciting. To know the secrets behind someone else's success, their motivations, feelings, struggles and failures. Well, that is exactly what a biography allows its readers to do. By reading a biography, readers get to experience someone else's life from birth to death. This article looks at the meaning of biography, its different formats and features, and a few notable examples to add to your reading list. 

Millions of flashcards designed to help you ace your studies

• Cell Biology

Which type of biography includes fictional elements?

Who wrote the biography on Steve Jobs?

Which of these biographies formed a key part of medical research?

The subject of the biography is also the author of the biography. True or False?

Which type of biography is centred around the subject's professional work?

Review generated flashcards

to start learning or create your own AI flashcards

Start learning or create your own AI flashcards

• American Drama
• American Literary Movements
• American Literature
• American Poetry
• American Regionalism Literature
• American Short Fiction
• Literary Criticism and Theory
• Literary Devices
• Academic and Campus Novel
• Adventure Fiction
• African Literature
• Amatory Fiction
• Antistrophe
• Autobiography
• Biblical Narrative
• Bildungsroman
• Blank Verse
• Children's Fiction
• Chivalric Romance
• Christian Drama
• Cliffhanger
• Closet drama
• Comedy in Drama
• Contemporary Fantasy
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Crime Fiction
• Cyberpunk Literature
• Detective Fiction
• Didactic Poetry
• Domestic Drama
• Dramatic Devices
• Dramatic Monologue
• Dramatic Structure
• Dramatic Terms
• Dramatis Personae
• Dystopian Fiction
• Elegiac Couplet
• English Renaissance Theatre
• Epic Poetry
• Epistolary Fiction
• Experimental Fiction
• Fantasy Fiction
• Feminist Literature
• Fictional Devices
• First World War Fiction
• Flash Fiction
• Foreshadowing
• Framed Narrative
• Free Indirect Discourse
• Genre Fiction
• Ghost Stories
• Gothic Novel
• Hard Low Fantasy
• Heroic Couplet
• Heroic Drama
• Historical Fantasy Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Historical Romance Fiction
• Historiographic Metafiction
• Horatian Ode
• Horatian Satire
• Horror Novel
• Hyperrealism
• Iambic Pentameter
• Indian Literature
• Interleaving
• Internal Rhyme
• Intertextuality
• Irish Literature
• Limerick Poem
• Linear Narrative
• Literary Antecedent
• Literary Archetypes
• Literary Fiction
• Literary Form
• Literary Realism
• Literary Terms
• Literature Review
• Liturgical Dramas
• Lyric Poetry
• Magical Realism
• Malapropism
• Medieval Drama
• Metafiction
• Metrical Foot
• Miracle Plays
• Morality Plays
• Mystery Novels
• Mystery Play
• Narrative Discourse
• Narrative Form
• Narrative Literature
• Narrative Nonfiction
• Narrative Poetry
• Neo-Realism
• Non Fiction Genres
• Non-Fiction
• Non-linear Narrative
• Northern Irish Literature
• One-Act Play
• Oral Narratives
• Organic Poetry
• Pastoral Fiction
• Pastoral Poetry
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Petrarchan Sonnet
• Picaresque Novel
• Poetic Devices
• Poetic Form
• Poetic Genre
• Poetic Terms
• Political Satire
• Postcolonial Literature
• Prose Poetry
• Psychological Fiction
• Queer Literature
• Regency Romance
• Regional Fiction
• Religious Fiction
• Research Article
• Restoration Comedy
• Rhyme Scheme
• Roman a clef
• Romance Fiction
• Satirical Poetry
• Sceptical Literature
• Science Fiction
• Scottish Literature
• Second World War Fiction
• Sentimental Comedy
• Sentimental Novel
• Shakespearean Sonnet
• Short Fiction
• Social Realism Literature
• Speculative Fiction
• Spenserian Sonnet
• Stream of Consciousness
• Supernatural Fiction
• The Early Novel
• Theatre of the Absurd
• Theatrical Realism
• Tragedy in Drama
• Tragicomedy
• Translations and English Literature
• Urban Fiction
• Utopian Fiction
• Verse Fable
• Volta Poetry
• Welsh Literature
• Western Novels
• Women's fiction
• Literary Elements
• Literary Movements
• Literary Studies
• Non-Fiction Authors

Biography meaning

The word 'biography' is a combination of the Greek words 'bios', which means 'life', and ' graphia', which refers to 'writing'. Simply stated, this means that a biography is a written account of someone else's life.

Biography: a detailed written account of a real person's life authored by a different person.

The subject of the biography, that is, the person whose life the biography is describing could be a historical figure, a celebrity, a politician, an athlete or even an ordinary person with a life full of stories worth telling.

A biography is a factual recording of a person's life from their birth to death (or the time that the biography is being written). It contains detailed descriptions of the person's childhood, education, relationships, career and any other key touchstone moments that defined that person's life. Hence, a biography is a non-fictiona l form of writing.

Non-fiction : Literature that is based on real-life events and facts, rather than imagination.

The first-ever biographies can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where people celebrated gods as well as notable men by writing about their personalities and life's accomplishments. Plutarch's Parallel Lives , published about 80 A.D, is the earliest ever recorded biographic work written solely about humans. In this work, Greeks are paired with Romans and are held up against each other and compared, with one being a good example to follow whilst the other's life serves as a cautionary tale

Difference between biography and autobiography

A biography is a written account of a person's life written by someone else. In this case, the subject, that is, the person the biography is written about is NOT the author or the narrator of the biography. Usually, the author and narrator of a biography, also known as the biographer, is someone who takes a great deal of interest in the subject's life.

A biography is usually written in a third-person narrative voice. This distance from the subject and their experiences allow the biographer to view the subject's experiences in the larger context of their life by comparing them to other experiences or analysing the impact of certain experiences on the subject's personality and life.

Now that we know what a biography is, what is an autobiography? The hint lies in the word 'auto', which is a Greek word meaning 'self'. That's right! An autobiography is a self-written biography.

Autobiography: a written account of a person's life, written by the person themselves.

In an autobiography, the subject of the biography and the author are the same person. Hence, an autobiography is usually when the author is narrating their own life story, in the way they experienced it themselves. They are written in first-person perspective.

Here is a table summarising the difference between a biography and an autobiography:

Features of a biography

Although every biography is different in the sense that its content is unique to the life of its subject, all biographies have several building blocks.

The success of a biography is largely dependent on its subject.

While choosing a subject, biographers must consider why this person's story would be of interest to the reader. Perhaps this person was extremely successful, or perhaps they discovered something new? Maybe they've had experiences that are unique or faced struggles and conquered them in a way that is inspiring and motivational. Biographies are all about making the mundane and everyday sound interesting and new.

While reading a biography, readers should get the sense that they are reliving the life of their subject. This requires a great deal of detail and accuracy from the biographer, who must gather enough information on their subject to paint a complete picture of their life.

Biographers most often use primary sources such as interviews with the subject and their family and friends to provide first-hand accounts of the subject's life. However, in cases where the subject is dead, the biographer may use their diary, memoirs, or even secondary sources such as news stories and articles about them.

• Key background information

The most essential part of research for a biographer is gathering all the key background information about their subject. This includes the following factual details about their subject:

• The date and place of their birth
• Their family history
• Their language, culture and traditions
• Key stages in their education and career
• Knowledge and history about the various settings in the biography- the subject's birthplace, home, school, office etc.
• Relationships with other people (and relevant details about these people)

Most biographies begin with a description of the subject's early life, which includes their childhood and early education, their upbringing, stories about their parents and siblings and their familial traditions and values. This is because the early developmental stages of a subject's life usually play a significant role in shaping later events in their life, their personality and worldview.

• Professional life

Just as important as it is to share the subject's early life, biographers place special emphasis on their subject's career. This is because this is the part where the subject's contribution to the world is discussed. This could serve as a major inspiration for people who are building a career in the same field, as readers could gain insight into the subject's motivations, secrets, successes and losses throughout their professional journey.

Typically, biographies follow a chronological order where they begin with the subject's birth and end with either their death or the present time. However, flashbacks are often used to show connectivity between the subject's early experiences and adulthood.

A biographer is not only responsible for presenting a factual recording of events in their subject's life but is also responsible for adding life to these moments by elaborating on the person's experiences and intimate thoughts and feelings during these moments. The best biographers are able to recreate their subject's life in the way that that person lived it.

Oftentimes, the biographer even provides their own opinions on the events they are detailing in the biography, perhaps to explain how these moments were significant to the subject and should be of significance to the reader.

Usually, a biography carries with it an important life lesson that it imparts to its reader. Biographies, where the subject has encountered several hardships, may advise the reader on how to overcome adversity and deal with failure. Biographies of successes can teach the reader how to achieve their goals and may become a source of inspiration and motivation for them.

Biography format

While all biographies work to present the life of real people, biographers can follow different formats while writing them. A few important ones have been discussed below.

• Modern biography

A modern or ' standard' biography details the life span of someone who is still alive or who passed away very recently. Usually, it is done with the permission of the subject or their family.

Journalist Kitty Kelley published His Way (1983), a highly detailed biography on the American singer and actor Frank Sinatra. However, this biography was unauthorised by Sinatra, who tried to stop its publication but failed. The biography consists of government documents, wiretaps, and interviews with Sinatra's colleagues, family and friends and was considered extremely revealing and controversial.

• Historical biography

Historical biographies are written on historical figures who have passed away and seek to highlight their life and contributions during the time in which they were alive. Sometimes they provide a look into the personal lives of famous historical figures or even shine the spotlight on people who were not recognised for their contributions.

Alexander Hamilton (2004) by Ron Chernow is a famous example of a historical biography written about Alexander Hamilton, one of the revolutionary founding fathers of the United States. The biography details Hamilton's contribution to America's birth by painting him as a patriot who made countless sacrifices to lay the foundations of a prosperous and powerful country.

In fact, no immigrant in American history has ever made a larger contribution than Alexander Hamilton.

- Ron Chernow

• Critical biography

Critical biographies usually tend not to focus as much on the personality or personal life of their subjects but are centred around their professional work, which is evaluated and discussed in the biography. In case matters where the subject's personal life has intervened in their work, these are then addressed as inspirations or motivations behind their work. These biographies usually contain less description and storytelling from the biographer. Instead, the biographer's skill is required in selecting, labelling, and arranging all the work created by their subject.

In 1948, Doughlas Southall Freeman won his second Pulitzer Prize for publishing the most comprehensive biography of George Washington (1948-57). The entire biographic series consists of seven well-researched volumes, each containing objective facts on George Washington's entire life span.

As discussed before, this is a self-written biography where the author narrates stories from their own life. The autobiographer is the subject and the author of the biography.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) is the first edition of a seven-volume autobiographical series written by Maya Angelou . It details her early life in Arkansas and her traumatic childhood, where she was subjected to sexual assault and racism. The autobiography then takes us through each of her multiple careers as a poet, teacher, actress, director, dancer, and activist and the injustices and prejudices she faces along the way as a black woman in America.

Fig. 2 - Maya Angelou, the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)

• Fictional biography

Yes, you heard that right! There are some instances where writers incorporate fictional devices in biographies to create biographies that are more entertaining rather than informative. W riters of this style may weave in imagined conversations, characters and events in their biographies. Sometimes, writers may even base an entire biography on a fictional character!

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald (2013) is a fictionalised biography where writer Theresa Anne Fowler imagines the life of Zelda Fitzgerald and F. Scott Fitzgerald from the perspective of Zelda herself and details the glamourous yet turbulent married life of the couple that defined the Jazz Age (1920s) .

Biography examples

Biographies can seem extremely tedious and uninteresting to those who enjoy fictional writing. However, here are a few notable examples of biographies that employ creative storytelling techniques to both inspire and entertain their readers.

• Steve Jobs (2011) by Walter Isaacson

This is one of the most classic examples of a well-researched and written biography. This biography by renowned biographer Walter Isaacson is based on more than 40 interviews over two years with Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, alongside other first-hand accounts provided by Jobs' family, friends, colleagues and even competitors. The biography takes readers through Jobs' creative journey and passion for technology and provides inspiring lessons on entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and success.

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010) by Rebecca Skloot

This biography is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman whose cells were taken for medical research in 1951 without her consent. Lacks' cervical cancer cells were later discovered to be an immortal cell line that could be used to study the effects of poisons, drugs, hormones and viruses on cancer cells without human trials.

This biography honours Henrietta's contribution to science and serves as an example of how literary works can start a discussion on ethical issues regarding race and class in medical research.

Christopher Johnson McCandless disappeared in 1922 while hitchhiking in Alaska. Later, his dead body was found in an abandoned bus on the same hiking trail with no obvious cause of death. So a year later, biographer Jon Krakauer retraced McCandless' steps by going through anecdotes from his journal and pictures in his camera to hypothesise what led McCandless to undertake such a dangerous journey that ultimately resulted in death. Through the course of the biography, Krakauer realises the many parallels between McCandless' personality and childhood experiences and his own. The biography discusses the struggles of finding oneself whilst being accepted into society.

Biography - Key takeaways

• A biography is a detailed written account of a real person's life authored by a different person.
• A biography is a written account of someone's life by someone else, whereas an autobiography is a self-written account of one's own life story.
• Into the Wild (1996) by Jon Krakauer
• Alexander Hamilton (2004) by Ron Cherno
• Fig. 1 - Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plutarch%27s_Lives.jpg
• Fig. 2 - Public Domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angelou_at_Clinton_inauguration_(cropped_2).jpg
• Fig. 3 - Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Jobs_and_Macintosh_computer,_January_1984,_by_Bernard_Gotfryd-_border_cropped.jpg

Flashcards in Biography 5

Fictional biography 

Walter Isaacson

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks   (2010) by Rebecca Skloot

Critical biography 

Learn with 5 Biography flashcards in the free StudySmarter app

We have 14,000 flashcards about Dynamic Landscapes.

Already have an account? Log in

Frequently Asked Questions about Biography

What is a biography?

A biography is a detailed written account of a real person's life authored by a different person.

What is in a biography?

A biography usually contains factual recordings of a person's life from their birth to death (or the time that the biography is being written). It contains detailed descriptions of the person's childhood, education, relationships, career and any other key touchstone moments that defined that person's life. 

What are the features of a biography?

These are the features that make a biography: 

Examples of biographies?

A few notable examples of biographies are: 

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks  (2010) by Rebecca Skloot
• Alexander Hamilton  (2004) by Ron Chernow

What is the difference between an autobiography and a biography?

A biography is a written account of someone's life by someone else, whereas an autobiography is a self-written account of one's own life story.

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

Join the StudySmarter App and learn efficiently with millions of flashcards and more!

Keep learning, you are doing great.

Discover learning materials with the free StudySmarter app

About StudySmarter

StudySmarter is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.

StudySmarter Editorial Team

Team English Literature Teachers

• 13 minutes reading time
• Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team

Study anywhere. Anytime.Across all devices.

Create a free account to save this explanation..

Save explanations to your personalised space and access them anytime, anywhere!

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy of StudySmarter.

Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

Join over 22 million students in learning with our StudySmarter App

The first learning app that truly has everything you need to ace your exams in one place

• Flashcards & Quizzes
• AI Study Assistant
• Study Planner
• Smart Note-Taking

| | | | | | | My Wordlists Legacy activities       Wordsmyth     Standard   Lookup History biographies an account, usu. written, of the facts and circumstances of one person's life. , such written accounts collectively. the field of biographical writing. Subscriber feature See   , Subscribe for ad-free Wordsmyth and more Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Meaning of biography in Essential American English Dictionary Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio (Definition of biography from the Webster's Essential Mini Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of biography Get a quick, free translation! Word of the Day kick something into the long grass to delay dealing with something, especially because you want people to forget about it Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy Learn more with +Plus Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}} Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English English–Dutch Dutch–English English–French French–English English–German German–English English–Indonesian Indonesian–English English–Italian Italian–English English–Japanese Japanese–English English–Norwegian Norwegian–English English–Polish Polish–English English–Portuguese Portuguese–English English–Spanish Spanish–English English–Swedish Swedish–English Dictionary +Plus Word Lists biographical Translations All translations To add biography to a word list please sign up or log in. Add biography to one of your lists below, or create a new one. {{message}} Something went wrong. There was a problem sending your report. 212 IMAGES 5 Example of Biography, Biography Samples and Formats Features of a biography poster by moshing Biography/Autobiography biography english sentence Biography-ESL-English Language-Readi…: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc PPT VIDEO Daily use sentences l #english #wordmeaningpractice Word Meanings|English|About|#english #spokenenglish #learnenglish #ytshortsindia #yt #shorts 😱Top 20 English meaning😱#english #khansir #khansir #medicalentranceexam #khansir #teacher #teacher Autobiography in English Literature English word meaning 100 Daily practice for Spoken English #english #wordmeaningpractice #dailyuse English Practice/learn english/#newvocab /#english /#spokenenglish /#wordmeaningpractice COMMENTS BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY definition: 1. the life story of a person written by someone else: 2. the life story of a person written by…. Learn more. Biography Definition & Meaning The meaning of BIOGRAPHY is a usually written history of a person's life. How to use biography in a sentence. So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY meaning: 1. the life story of a person written by someone else: 2. the life story of a person written by…. Learn more. BIOGRAPHY Definition & Meaning Biography definition: a written account of another person's life. See examples of BIOGRAPHY used in a sentence. Biography A biography is an account of somebody's life written by somebody else, complete with details of the most important parts. ... meaning "life" or "way of living." Write On!: Graph and Gram. Practice this vocabulary list and explore words that contain the Greek roots graph ("write/writing ... Spanish-English dictionary, translator, and learning ... BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY definition: 1. the story of a person's life written by another person 2. about someone's life: . Learn more. biography noun the story of a person's life written by somebody else; this type of writing. Boswell's biography of Johnson; a biography by Antonia Fraser; The book gives potted biographies of all the major painters. BIOGRAPHY definition and meaning 2 meanings: 1. an account of a person's life by another 2. such accounts collectively.... Click for more definitions. Biography Biography. A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting various ... biography, n. meanings, etymology and more The earliest known use of the noun biography is in the mid 1600s. OED's earliest evidence for biography is from 1661, in the writing of John Fell, bishop of Oxford. biography is a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: Latin biographia. See etymology. biography From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: Newspapers, printing, publishing, History, Literature biography bi‧og‧ra‧phy / baɪˈɒɡrəfi $ -ˈɑːɡ-/ noun (plural biographies) 1 [countable] TCN SH a book that tells what has happened in someone's life, written by someone else biography of Boswell's biography of ... biography biography - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free. ... 'biography' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):-graphy - Bancroft Prize - Christine de Pisan - D.N.B. - Froude - Johnson - Life of Samuel Johnson, ... Biography Definition & Meaning biography (noun) biography /baɪ ˈ ɑːgrəfi/ noun. plural biographies. Britannica Dictionary definition of BIOGRAPHY. [count] : the story of a real person's life written by someone other than that person. a new biography of Abraham Lincoln. — compare autobiography. Biography Definition of Biography. A biography is the non- fiction, written history or account of a person's life. Biographies are intended to give an objective portrayal of a person, written in the third person. Biographers collect information from the subject (if he/she is available), acquaintances of the subject, or in researching other sources such ... Meaning of "biography" in the English dictionary SYNONYMS OF «BIOGRAPHY». The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «biography» and belong to the same grammatical category. synonyms of biography. account · curriculum vitae · life · life history · life story · memoir · profile · record. Biography in Literature: Definition & Examples A biography (BYE-og-ruh-fee) is a written account of one person's life authored by another person. A biography includes all pertinent details from the subject's life, typically arranged in a chronological order. The word biography stems from the Latin biographia, which succinctly explains the word's definition: bios = "life" + graphia = "write." How to Write Biography in English? (2024) Writing a biography is the process of documenting a person's life journey, experiences, and impact. It involves a detailed exploration of their personal and professional history, motivations, and character. A well written biography can provide valuable insights into the subject's life, their contributions to society, and the histories, but ... How to Write a Biography in English With Example A biography is a detailed description or account of a person's life. It entails more than basic facts (education, work, relationship, and death). A biography also explains the subject's experience of these events. Like a profile or curriculum vitae (resume). A biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting various aspects of his ... biography biography (third-person singular simple present biographies, present participle biographying, simple past and past participle biographied) To write a biography of. ... English entries with language name categories using raw markup; Pages with 1 entry; Terms with Albanian translations; Biography: Meaning, Examples & Features Biography meaning. The word 'biography' is a combination of the Greek words 'bios', which means 'life', and ' graphia', which refers to 'writing'. Simply stated, this means that a biography is a written account of someone else's life. Biography: a detailed written account of a real person's life authored by a different person. biography biographies. definition 1: an account, usu. written, of the facts and circumstances of one person's life. similar words: life, memoir. definition 2: such written accounts collectively. definition 3: the field of biographical writing. BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY meaning: 1. the story of a person's life written by another person 2. about someone's life: . Learn more. BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY definition: 1. the story of a person's life written by another person 2. about someone's life: . Learn more. assignment essay homework phd report resume review speech thesis