biography dictionary.com

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of biography noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definitions on the go

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

Nearby words

• Tools and Resources
• Customer Services
• Agriculture
• Armed forces and intelligence services
• Art and architecture
• Business and finance
• Education and scholarship
• Individuals
• Law and crime
• Manufacture and trade
• Media and performing arts
• Medicine and health
• Religion and belief
• Royalty, rulers, and aristocracy
• Science and technology
• Social welfare and reform
• Sports, games, and pastimes
• Travel and exploration
• Writing and publishing
• Christianity

Welcome to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

• Over 60,000 biographies, 72 million words, 11,000 portraits of significant, influential or notorious figures who shaped British history – perform advanced search
• Life of the day now available by email or RSS feed .
• Learn about our editors and read the  Letter from the General Editor Professor Sir David Cannadine.

Information for Librarians

What’s New, March 2024

This month’s update, introduced by Melanie Bell, adds the lives of fifteen women involved in filmmaking, including documentary directors and screenwriters, a costume designer, foley sound artist, composer, and animator.

Read the introduction now

Tait [ married name Pirie], Margaret Caroline (1918–1999)

Born in Orkney, the film-maker and poet Margaret Tait (1918–1999) founded her own production company in Edinburgh in 1953. Committed to independent ways of working, she devised her own scripts, recorded sound, edited, hand-crafted credits, and directed animations for her films. During her lifetime she made over thirty short films.

Find out more

• Harry Patch, First World War veteran
• Flora MacDonald, Jacobite heroine
• Geoffrey Malins, filmmaker and adventurer
• Edith Cavell, nurse and war heroine

Discover more podcasts  

Latest Tweets

Life of the day, march 14, 2024, what's new: march 2024, february 8, 2024, what's new: february 2024.

This month’s update adds sixteen new lives, with a transnational focus, whether those who came to Britain, or Britons abroad: including the poets Pierre de Cardonnel and Emma Lyon, the chemist Ephraim Seehl, the foundling and mariner George King, the art dealer Ernest Gambart, the politician Mary Ellen Smith, the Holocaust Library founder Alfred Wiener, and the ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey.

JANUARY 11, 2024

What's new: january 2024.

Welcome to the 106th update of the Oxford DNB , which adds nine new articles accompanied by two portrait likenesses, with a special focus on nursing lives. From January 2024, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ( Oxford DNB ) offers biographies of 64,910 men and women who have shaped the British past, contained in 62,496 articles. 12,025 biographies include a portrait image of the subject – researched in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Printed from Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a single article for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 29 March 2024

• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice
• Accessibility
• [66.249.64.20|81.177.182.136]
• 81.177.182.136

• TheFreeDictionary
• Word / Article
• Starts with
• Free toolbar & extensions
• Word of the Day
• Free content

bi·og·ra·phy

Bi•og•ra•phy.

• Bandaranaike
• Beauharnais
• biographical
• biogenetic law
• biogenetics
• biogenic amine
• biogeochemical
• biogeochemistry
• biogeographer
• biogeographic
• biogeographical
• biogeographical region
• biogeography
• biographical intelligence
• biographize
• biohazard suit
• biohazardous
• bioidentical
• bioindustry
• bioinformatics
• bioinorganic
• bioinstrumentation
• bioleaching
• biolinguistics
• biologic attack
• biological agent
• biological ammunition
• biological attack
• biological clock
• biological computing
• biological control
• biological defence
• Biographical dictionary
• Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity
• Biographical Directory of the American Congress
• Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film
• Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names
• Biographical Evaluation and Screening of Troops
• Biographical film
• Biographical Inventory
• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society
• Biographical Method
• Biographical Questionnaire
• biographically
• biographicly
• biographies
• Biographies of Living Persons
• Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon
• biographise
• Biographize
• Biography and Autobiography
• Biography and Genealogy Master Index
• Biography of living persons
• Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
• Biography of Nikola Tesla
• Biohackerdom
• BioHazard (robot)
• Biohazard Assessment Research Branch
• Biohazard Detection System
• Biohazard Level
• Facebook Share

• Harvard Library
• Research Guides
• Faculty of Arts & Sciences Libraries

Finding Biographical Information

Biographical dictionaries.

• Research Approaches

Biographical Dictionaries by Occupation

Biographical dictionaries by gender, biographical dictionaries by ethnicity, finding more biographical dictionaries.

• Book-length Biographies
• Periodical Articles/Obituaries
• Diaries/Autobiographies
• College/University Alumni/ae Biography
• Festschrifts
• Archival Sources
• Government Directories
• Local Histories
• Genealogical Sources
• Boston-Area Biography
• Asia, South & Central
• Asia, Southeast
• Australia/Pacific
• Europe: Regional & by Country, A-F
• Europe: H-N
• Europe: P-Z
• Mexico/Central America
• South America
• Russia/Central Asia
• Middle East
• North America/Canada

By no means all biographical dictionaries are covered by the resources listed in Resources of First Resort. More are listed on this page.

• Biograpical Dictionaries by Occupation

Authors including Literary Authors

Contemporary Authors  includes over 116,000 living (or dying since early 1960s) literary and non-literary writers worldwide. Articles typically include short critical essay;  brief personal information; list of author’s writings; critical writings about the author.  New entries appear in  Contemporary Authors  (CA); revisions of CA entries appear in  Contemporary Authors New Revision Series  and the  Permanent Series . HOLLIS Records In  Gale In Context: Biography  (Available to Massachusetts residents via the State Library of Massachusetts)

Dictionary of Literary Biography is a huge series of volumes offering biographical-critical essays on authors, including references for interviews, critical writings. Coverage is international, with emphasis on English and American. Lamont REF.ROOM PN451.D5 1978x (Lamont holds selected volumes.) Widener RR 3129 (Widener holds the complete set.) The DLB is indexed by name in the Literary Index Includes numerous volumes on essayists, travel writers, literary biographers, book collectors and bibliographers, major publishing forms, etc. as well as on literary authors.

American men of science; a biographical directory , 1906- . [title varies: American men & women of science, 1971- ].  HOLLIS Records Internet Archive Full Text  (1905-1970) Internet Archive Full Text   (1971-2009)  Open Year on left to select your year)

Index to editions 1/14: Cabot Science Q141 .A471 1983 CUM. Index 1-14 Widener WID-LC Q141 .A474 (At beginning) Widener | S 120.15.5 (shelved before 14th ed.) Internet Archive Full Text Indexed by  Biography and Genealogy Master Index  (BGMI) from 12th ed. (1971/73) to present.

Complete Dictionary of scientific biography  is the online version of the  Dictionary of scientific biography  and  New Dictionary of Scientific Biography . Offers biographical articles on deceased scientists, including lists of primary and secondary literature. Volume 16 includes a general index and a list of scientists by field. Volumes 17 & 18 are supplements containing scientists left out of the main series and those dying between 1970 and 1981.  New Dictionary of Scientific Biography  contains new articles about scientists dying after 1950 and earlier figures omitted from the original  Dictionary  together with articles updating entries in the original. Unlike the original, psychology and anthropology are covered, with some sociology and economics. --For more recent sources use  History of Science, Technology and Medicine . For new primary works (new editions, etc.) put your person in the author field. For new secondary works, put your person in the Subject field. --Scribner, C. 1980. Publishing the Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, v. 124, no. 5, pp. 320-322.

The following biographical dictionaries either are not included in BGMI or WBIS, or have features (occupational or other indexes) not accessible through these sources.

FemBio . Institute for Women's Biography Research Hannover/Boston, Luise F. Pusch Hannover, Germany --Some entries give substantial information; others are skeletal. Emphasis on European, especially German women. Full entries have source lists, web links, and often portraits and other photographs.

International who's who of women . London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1992- LOCATION: Widener: RR1505.30

Lesser-known women: a biographical dictionary , 1992. LOCATION: Widener: RR4761.21.5 --Includes over 800 living and deceased women arranged chronologically (1600-1991) by year of most significant achievement. Entries are keyed to about 600 numbered sources in a terminal bibliography. Indexes list biographees by name, country, and profession.

Notable American women . Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971-2004. 5 v. LOCATION: Widener: RR 1711. 34 --Covers women deceased before 1999. Articles include extensive source lists giving particular attention to unpublished sources. Classified index (by field) in each vol. Vols. 1-4 indexed in Biography and genealogy master index. Full text in  Women and Social Movements in the United States: 1600-2000

Oxford encyclopedia of women in world history , ed. by Bonnie G. Smith. Oxford; NY: Oxford University Press, 2008 4 v. LOCATION: Widener | RR 1701.60 --Both topical and biographical articles.

Palgrave Macmillan dictionary of women's biography . 4th ed. NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. LOCATION: WID-LC CT3202 .P26 2005 --Includes over 2100 women, living and deceased, from Antiquity to the present. Introductory nine-page survey of other biographical sources. A few entries are dropped with each new edition. Subject index by occupation or reason for prominence. 1st ed.: The International dictionary of women's biography, 1982.

Women in world history: a biographical encyclopedia , ed. by Anne Commire and Deborah Klezmer. Waterford, CT: Yorkin Publications, 1999-2002. 17 v. LOCATION: Widener | RR 1701.50 --Covers living and deceased women, from Antiquity to the present. Most articles have source lists, which include the location of personal papers. The last volume (v. 17) contains indexes by name with variant spellings, by occupation/experience, etc. Indexed in Biography and genealogy master index.

European immigrant women in the United States: a biographical dictionary , ed. by Judy Barrett Litoff, Judith McDonnell. New York : Garland Pub., 1994, 357 p. LOCATION: Widener | WID-LC | E184.E95 L58 1994 --Includes 239 biographies of deceased women who immigrated since the American Revolution. Each biography has a substantial source list, often giving archival sources. Biographee list by area of activity and a short name/topic index.

Jewish women in America: an historical encyclopedia , ed. by Paula E. Hyman and Deborah Dash Moore. NY: Routledge, 1997. 2 v. LOCATION: Widener | WID-LC | DS115.2 .J49 1997x --Long name/topic index and list of biographees by area of activity. Full text in World Biographical Information System.

Latinas in the United States: a historical encyclopedia , ed. by Vicki L. Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2006. 3 v. LOCATION: Widener | WID-LC | E184.S75 L35 2006

Notable Black American women . Detroit: Gale Research, 1992-1996. LOCATION: Widener: RR4781.41.69 Library has: 2 v. --Includes around 1100 women (about half living) with birth dates 1686-1970. Each entry has a source list (which includes archival sources) and many have portraits. There is an "Area of endeavor" list and a detailed subject index in each volume. Indexed in Biography and genealogy master index and full text in Biography in Context

Biographical Indexes

Women in particular: an index to American women , by Kali Herman. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1984. LOCATION: Widener: RR 1501. 26 --Index to biographical articles on women in some 54 works of collective biography. Comprises five indexes: (1) Field and career index; (2) Religious affiliation index; (3) Ethnic and racial index; (4) Geographical index; and (5) Alphabetical index. Biographees are entered in as many of the first four sections (and subsections) as are applicable, with full information (name, dates, occupation or field of activity, places of residence, religion, ethnicity, and references to biographical sources) repeated at each entry. The alphabetical (biographee) index lists all the entries in the other four indexes.

Subject guide to women of the world , by Katharine Joan Phenix. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1996, 516 p. Location : Widener RR 1501.24.5 --Provides topical and geographical indexes to  Index to women of the world from ancient to modern times; biographies and portraits  (Widener: RR 1501) which provides references to biographical sketches which appear in 945 collective biographies and which is itself indexed by name in Biography and Genealogy Master Index.

African American national biography , ed. by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Evelyn Brooks-Higginbotham. NY: Oxford University Press, 2013, 12 v. Andover-Harv. Theol | Ref. | E185.96 .A4466 2008 (1st ed.) Lamont | REFERENCE | E185.96 .A4466 2008 (1st ed.) Widener RR 4781.60 (2nd ed.; 2013) Online version  (Continuously updated)

Contemporary Black biography . Vol. 1- Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1992- LOCATION: Widener: RR 4781.41.59 Substantial articles (two to six pages), with source references. Each volume has about 70 articles. Many entries have photographs or interviews. Covers primarily (but not exclusively) living persons; about 80% are Americans. Indexed by nationality, occupation, subject, and name. Indexed in Biography and genealogy master index

African-American Biographical Database  is an online collection of about 300 full-text biographical dictionaries. Also available as a microfiche set, with printed index, in Widener's Reference Room (as  Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950 ).

Notable Asian Americans , ed by Helen Zia and Susan B. Gall. New York : Gale Research, 1995, 468 p. HOLLIS Record

Distinguished Asian Americans: a biographical dictionary , ed. by Hyung-chan Kim. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999, 430 p. HOLLIS Record

Who's who among Asian Americans . Detroit : Gale Research Inc., 1994. 1 v.  HOLLIS Record

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans , ed. by Gary Y. Okihiro. Ispwich, Mass.: Salem Press, 2013. 3 v. HOLLIS Record

Native American biographies  (North American Indian Thought and Culture) 

Find unindexed works of collective biography in your subject area by searching the  HOLLIS Catalog  and  WorldCat , a collective catalog of thousands of libraries. Very specialized and very recent collective biographies are least likely to be indexed.

To find biographical dictionaries and who's whos, attach the words Biography AND (Dictionaries OR Encyclopedias OR "bio-bibliographies") to your search term, thus:

Physicians AND Biography AND (Dictionaries OR Encyclopedias OR "Bio-bibliography")

Some collective biographical works, especially those including a small number of persons,  carry the term Biography only.  These can only be found by browsing through the whole (and large)  Physicians Biography set

Records for who's whos sometimes, but by no means consistently, bear the subdivisions Directories or Periodicals.

When you have found a likely collective biography, check the lists of indexed sources in  Biography and Genealogy Master Index  (Sources Indexed) and do a Bibliographical search in the  World Biographical Information System (WBIS) . Although many biographical dictionaries are available full text in WBIS, the print versions often contain vocational/geographical indexes and other features not available through WBIS.

Subject dictionaries and encyclopedias, although not purely biographical, often include biographical articles

Example: History of physical anthropology : an encyclopedia / edited by Frank Spencer. Subject: Physical anthropology Encyclopedias.

Search for them in HOLLIS+: anthropology AND (encyclopedias OR dictionaries)

Bibliographies of Collective Biography

The following sources list biographical dictionaries by subject:

Biographical dictionaries and related works: an international bibliography of more than 16,000 collective biographies  ..., by Robert B. Slocum, 2nd ed. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1986. LOCATION: Law School: Special Coll Ref CT 104.S55x 1986 LOCATION: Widener: RR 1501. 13.2 Library has: 2 v. --Thorough and conveniently arranged, by geography and profession, bibliography of pre-1986 biographical dictionaries.

Guide to reference in genealogy and biography , ed. by Mary K. Mannix, Fred Burchsted, and Jo Bell Whitlatch. Chicago: ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association, 2015, 372 pages. HOLLIS Record Biographical section arranged by continent and country.

ARBA guide to biographical dictionaries . Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1986. LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC CT103.Z99 A73 x, 1986 --Continued by ARBA guide to biographical resources, 1986-1997 . Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1998. LOCATION: Widener: RR 1501.13.6

Bibliographie analytique des biographies collectives imprimées de la France contemporaine, 1789-1985 , by Alfred Fierro. Geneve: Slatkine, 1986. LOCATION: Andover-Harv. Theol: Ref. Z2170.F45 1986 LOCATION: Widener: RR 1771.30 --Sources arranged by profession.

• << Previous: Research Approaches
• Next: Book-length Biographies >>
• Last Updated: Aug 25, 2023 10:09 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/biography

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of biography in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• This biography offers a few glimpses of his life before he became famous .
• Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought .
• The biography was a bit of a rush job .
• The biography is an attempt to uncover the inner man.
• The biography is woven from the many accounts which exist of things she did.
• exercise book
• novelistically
• young adult

biography | Intermediate English

• biographical

Examples of biography

Translations of biography.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

to change a document in order to deceive people

Sitting on the fence (Newspaper idioms)

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
• English    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add biography to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

.css-1dmjnw1{position:relative;}.css-1dmjnw1:before{content:"";position:absolute;} .css-13il6b0{display:block;font-family:Ramillas,Ramillas-weightbold-roboto,Ramillas-weightbold-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-size:2rem;font-weight:800;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13il6b0:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13il6b0{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.1;}} Shirley Chisholm and the 9 Other Trailblazing Black Women in Congress .css-ha23m7{position:relative;}.css-ha23m7:after{content:"";position:absolute;}

These political pioneers broke racial and gender barriers during their time as members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

.css-1ymvwpa{display:block;font-family:Ramillas,Ramillas-weightbold-roboto,Ramillas-weightbold-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-size:2rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1ymvwpa:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1ymvwpa{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.1;}} Why Priscilla Presley Has Never Remarried

The 78-year-old recently revealed she loves Elvis to this day despite the infidelities that ruined their relationship.

.css-16fg1hg{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Gilroy-roboto,Gilroy-local,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-16fg1hg:hover{color:link-hover;}} Carrie Underwood Is Expanding Her Music Empire

Dolly Parton Wrote “Jolene” in a Flash of Jealousy

Best Timothee Chalamet Movies

Céline Dion Gives Emotional Health Update on IG

Notable now.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Francis Scott Key

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Dennis Rader

Notorious figures and acts.

Where Are the Menendez Brothers Now?

As Netflix gears up to retell Lyle and Erik Menendez’s story, here’s what life behind bars is like for the brothers today.

.css-43q7z5{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Gilroy-roboto,Gilroy-local,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-43q7z5:hover{color:link-hover;}} Where Is Gypsy Rose Blanchard Now?

The 12 Greatest Unsolved Disappearances

Where Is Alex Murdaugh Now?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard: What Everyone Missed

The Real Name and Face of Jack the Ripper?

The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother

The Timeline of Green River Killer Gary Ridgway

Lori Vallow Daybell Faces More Murder Charges

The Manhunt for John Wilkes Booth

‘Masters of the Air:’ The Real 100th Bomb Group

Justin Timberlake 2024 Tour Ticket Info

Eric Carmen and The Making of “Hungry Eyes”

Celebrating women’s history month.

41 Famous Women in History Who Have Changed the World

From outer space to the Oscars stage, these trailblazers have left their mark.

5 Crowning Achievements of Maya Angelou

The Women Behind the 19th Amendment

10 Black Female Pioneers in Science

5 Powerful and Influential Native American Women

.css-1aq4sl:before,.css-1aq4sl:after{visibility:hidden;} connections.

The Most Devastating Divorces In Music History

Elvis Presley’s Family Tree

Who Are Britney Spears’ Kids? Meet Sean and Jayden

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton Share a Special Bond

Clara Bow’s Family Reacted to Taylor Swift’s Song

15 Famous Country Singers of the Past and Present

2024 Grammys: The Major Winners and Takeaways

Wynonna Judd Explains Her Odd CMAs Performance

The 10 Best Biographies Written by Women

The Exact Bikini Taylor Wore on Her Bahamas Vacay

Fabulous Beyoncé Merch You Can Buy on Amazon

Shop Zendaya's Comfy Tennis Court Sneakers

9 Chic Jeans Inspired by Beyoncé’s All Denim Looks

Why Priscilla Presley Never Remarried After Elvis

About Biography.com

Carrie Underwood Is Expanding Her Music Empire

Julius Caesar

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

biographical

Definition of biographical

Examples of biographical in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biographical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near biographical

biographize

Cite this Entry

“Biographical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biographical. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on biographical

Nglish: Translation of biographical for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of biographical for Arabic Speakers

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

The tangled history of 'it's' and 'its', more commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - mar. 22, 12 words for signs of spring, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, games & quizzes.

Definition of 'biography'

Image of biography

Video: pronunciation of biography

biography in British English

Biography in american english, examples of 'biography' in a sentence biography, cobuild collocations biography, trends of biography.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically biography

• biographically
• biographies
• biographize
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'B'

Related terms of biography

• new biography
• brief biography
• short biography
• author biography
• detailed biography
• View more related words

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Advertisement

Supported by

Lorrie Moore Is Among National Book Critics Circle Award Winners

The awards included a lifetime achievement honor given to Judy Blume.

• Share full article

By Alexandra Alter and Elizabeth A. Harris

The novelist Lorrie Moore on Thursday won a National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction for “I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home,” her novel that follows a devastated high school teacher who goes on a road trip with the animated corpse of his ex-girlfriend, who has died by suicide.

In a citation, one of the judges, David Varno, praised the novel as “a heartbreaking and hilarious ghost story” and “an unforgettable achievement from a landmark American author.”

The awards, which were announced at a ceremony at the New School in New York City, are among the most prestigious literary prizes in the United States. Unlike other major awards, the recipients are chosen by book critics instead of committees made up of authors or academics.

The critics organization, which was founded in 1974, is made up of more than 700 critics and review editors. Thursday’s awards recognized works published last year and were open to authors of books published in English in the United States.

In addition to giving prizes in literary categories like biography, criticism, autobiography, fiction and poetry, the group also recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to literary culture.

This year, Becca Rothfeld, the nonfiction book critic for The Washington Post and the author of a forthcoming debut essay collection, “All Things Are Too Small,” received the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing. The award, named after a former New York Times Book Review editor, is given to an N.B.C.C. member for criticism.

The organization’s service award was given to the author and critic Marion Winik, a former treasurer for the group who helped to steer it through the pandemic.

The lifetime achievement award was given to Judy Blume, a novelist beloved for classics like “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

In a recorded speech to accept the honor, the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, named for the organization’s first president, Blume acknowledged librarians for their work promoting intellectual freedom. She also thanked her parents for giving her “the freedom to choose my own books.”

Librarians, who have come under pressure from some parents and lawmakers as book bans have surged across the country, were also honored when the American Library Association received the Toni Morrison Achievement Award. “At a time when our nation’s libraries remain under relentless assault from both political and economic forces, the A.L.A. towers over the literary landscape as a beacon for our most vulnerable voices,” the award chair, Jacob M. Appel, said in a citation.

Below is a complete list of this year’s winners.

“ I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home ” by Lorrie Moore

A young man goes on a road trip with the animated corpse of his ex-girlfriend, who died by suicide, in a ghost story and zombie romance that takes place in both the 19th and 21st centuries. In a Times review of the novel, Moore’s first in 14 years, Dwight Garner praised Moore as “a consummate user of the English language; her moisture-wicking sentences confirm and reconfirm your sanity.”

Autobiography

“ How to Say Babylon: A Memoir ” by Safiya Sinclair

A memoir about growing up in a strict Rastafarian household and trying to break away from her father and the obedience he required. The Times review of the memoir said: “For its sheer lusciousness of prose, the book’s a banquet. Sinclair’s Montego Bay drips with tender sensuality and complexity that seduces you like a fresh wound to slow pokes and feels.”

“ Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage ” by Jonny Steinberg

This biography chronicles the marriage of the South African leader Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, including their decades apart while Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island and Madikizela-Mandela became a major figure in the resistance to apartheid.

“ We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America ,” by Roxanna Asgarian

Asgarian, a journalist who has written about legal issues for The Texas Tribune, investigates a shocking tragedy that occurred in 2018, when an S.U.V. plunged off a cliff along a coastal highway, killing a family of eight. She recounts the horrifying details of what investigators concluded was not an accident, but a murder-suicide, and also reveals the ways in which systemic failures in the foster care system may have contributed to the children’s deaths.

“ Phantom Pain Wings ” by Kim Hyesoon

Translated from Korean by Don Mee Choi, this poetry collection “reads like a variety of horror — haunted, grotesque, futureless,” Elisa Gabbert wrote in a review in The Times.

The Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize

“ Cold Nights of Childhood ” by Tezer Özlü , translated by Maureen Freely

The translation prize, awarded jointly to authors and translators, was given to a novel by Özlü, a Turkish writer who died in 1986. Originally published in 1980 and released in English in the United States last year by Transit Books, the narrative follows a woman who is battling mental illness and exploring her sexuality. The prize is named for Barrios, a poet, playwright and critic who died in 2021.

John Leonard Prize

“ Waiting to Be Arrested at Night: A Uyghur Poet’s Memoir of China’s Genocide ” by Tahir Hamut Izgil, translated by Joshua L. Freeman

In this memoir, which won the prize for best debut book, Izgil, a poet, recounts the persecution and terror he faced as a member of China’s Muslim Uyghur minority when he was living in Urumqi, a city in China’s western Xinjiang region. “This is in effect a psychological thriller, although the narrative unfolds like a classic horror movie as relative normalcy dissolves into a nightmare,” Barbara Demick wrote in a review in The Times. The prize is named for Leonard, a literary critic and co-founder of the critics organization who died in 2008.

“ Deadpan: The Aesthetics of Black Inexpression ” by Tina Post

Post, an assistant professor of English at the University of Chicago, explores purposeful withholding as a tool used by makers of Black culture.

Alexandra Alter writes about books, publishing and the literary world for The Times. More about Alexandra Alter

  More about Elizabeth A. Harris

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

James McBride’s novel sold a million copies, and he isn’t sure how he feels about that, as he considers the critical and commercial success  of “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.”

How did gender become a scary word? Judith Butler, the theorist who got us talking about the subject , has answers.

You never know what’s going to go wrong in these graphic novels, where Circus tigers, giant spiders, shifting borders and motherhood all threaten to end life as we know it .

When the author Tommy Orange received an impassioned email from a teacher in the Bronx, he dropped everything to visit the students  who inspired it.

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Conjoined Twin Abby Hensel Got Married in a 2021 Wedding Ceremony

The former TLC reality star married Army vet Josh Bowling

Conjoined twin Abby Hensel is married.

The former TLC reality star, 34, who first gained notoriety alongside sister Brittany when the pair appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996, tied the knot with Josh Bowling, a nurse and United States Army veteran, in 2021, according to public records obtained by Today .

The Hensels' Facebook profile photo appears to be a wedding image, with the conjoined twins wearing a wedding dress, while Bowling, in a grey suit, stands before them holding their hand.

According to Today , the twins are now fifth grade teachers and reside in Minnesota, where they were born and raised.

Bowling’s Facebook page also features happy images of him with the twins enjoying ice cream and traveling together. Additionally, his X profile, which is linked to his Facebook account, reads, "Christian, Father, Husband, Veteran, and occasional gamer."

PEOPLE reached out to the Abby and Brittany Hensel, as well as Bowling, but did not immediately get a response.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

The Hensels are dicephalus conjoined twins, a rare form of partial twinning with two heads side by side on one torso. They share a bloodstream and all organs below the waist. Abby controls their right arm and leg, while Brittany controls the left.

Following their Oprah appearance, the Hensel's lives were documented on the TLC reality series Abby & Brittany, which followed them as they prepared to graduate from Minnesota's Bethel College and later traveled to Europe.

"People have been curious about us since we were born, for obvious reasons," the twins said in the first episode of the eight-part series, according to ABC. "But our parents never let us use that as an excuse. We were raised to believe we could do anything we wanted to do."

At birth, doctors presented the possibility of separating the twins. But their parents, Patty and Mike, decided against the surgery after being told there was little chance that both could survive the procedure. 

“How could you pick between the two?” Mike said in a 2001 interview with  TIME .

In that same interview, he also talked about the possibility of marriage one day for Abby and Brittany. At the time, the magazine reported that they were already asking their father about finding husbands someday.

Knowing that other conjoined twins have married, he thought, why not? "They're good-looking girls. They're witty. They've got everything going for them, except they're together," Mike said.

Related Articles

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Grammar Coach ™
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Word of the day

[ bib -lee- uh -klept ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

It turns out Aries have been go-getters since the very beginning! Learn more about this tenacious sign, and its corresponding animal and constellation. Read more.

Advertisement

Calling all cruciverbalists! Sharpen your mind with crosswords and word games, or take a brain break with your favorite classic games.

The votes are in!

• You Might Not Understand The New Use Of "Preppy" (It'll Be OK)
• How Are You Using The Face In Clouds Emoji 😶‍🌫️ ?
• "Spelt" Or "Spelled"? What’s The Past Tense Of "Spell"?
• How Many Of These Popularly Quoted Movie Lines Do You Recognize?
• 21 Muslim American Luminaries On The Significance Of Ramadan

Salutations, logophile!

Sign up to get everything a word lover could want: word origins, fun facts, and the latest language trends.

• Cast & crew

Back to Black

The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

• Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Matt Greenhalgh
• Marisa Abela
• Eddie Marsan
• Jack O'Connell
• 1 Critic review

• Amy Winehouse

• Mitch Winehouse

• Blake Fielder-Civil

• Cynthia Winehouse

• Janis Winehouse

• Raye Cosbert

• Aunt Melody

• See all cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 2 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Navy identifies Florida sailor who died while deployed in Red Sea: He embodied 'selfless character'

The U.S. Navy has identified a Florida sailor who vanished last week and died while deployed in the Red Sea.

The sailor was identified as Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, military officials said Saturday. Aregbesola was an aviation machinist's mate 2nd class and was stationed on the USS Mason in the Red Sea.

"Petty Officer Aregbesola fully embodied the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor," Cmdr. Eric Kohut, HSM-74 commanding officer, said in a statement . "His outstanding performance prior to and during deployment went well beyond aircraft maintenance; he truly saw and valued every member of the ship/air team."

Aregbesola was supporting operations in the Red Sea when he went overboard on March 20, according to the U.S. Central Command . Further details were not immediately provided, but officials said search and recovery operations were carried out.

Aregbesola died as a result of a non-combat-related incident, the Department of Defense said in a statement. The incident is under investigation.

The death of Aregbesola is the latest involving U.S. service members deployed in areas in or near the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas war . In January, two Navy SEALs had vanished in the Arabian Sea during a nighttime boarding mission to seize an unflagged boat carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.

Who was Oriola Michael Aregbesola?

Aregbesola was from Miramar, Florida, and was stationed on the USS Mason deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, according to the Defense Department.

He was assigned to the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, the Navy said in a statement. The USS Mason had been operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area since November.

Aregbesola joined the Navy in July 2020 and reported to HSM-74 in December 2020, according to the Navy.

“He will continue on in the heart of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group," Kohut said. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family.” 

'Exceptional warriors': Navy identifies SEALs declared dead after mission to confiscate Iranian-made weapons

Navy previously identified SEALs declared dead in Red Sea

The two Navy SEALs were declared dead about a week after military officials said they went overboard off the coast of Somalia. They were identified as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27.

Chambers and Ingram served with a U.S. West Coast-based SEAL team. The two SEALs were on an interdiction mission Jan. 11 when one of them fell off a ship after high waves hit the vessel, prompting the other SEAL to go after him to attempt a rescue, according to officials.

Search and rescue operations involving ships and aircraft from the United States, Japan and Spain lasted for 10 days before the Central Command changed it to a recovery operation.

Contributing: Sarah Al-Arshani