documentation

noun

doc·​u·​men·​ta·​tion ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce documentation (audio)
-ˌmen-,
-kyü-
1
: the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents
2
a
: the provision of documents in substantiation
also : documentary evidence
b(1)
: the use of historical documents
(2)
: conformity to historical or objective facts
(3)
: the provision of footnotes, appendices, or addenda referring to or containing documentary evidence
3
4
: the usually printed instructions, comments, and information for using a particular piece or system of computer software or hardware
documentational
ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈtā-shnəl How to pronounce documentation (audio)
-shə-nᵊl
-ˌmen-
-kyü-
adjective

Examples of documentation in a Sentence

You cannot visit the country unless you have the proper documentation. Keep your receipts as documentation of your purchases. Can you provide documentation of the claims you're making? The program's documentation is poorly written.
Recent Examples on the Web Some of the issues flagged by that audit related to inspection and quality-control documentation, though the exact findings were not detailed in the presentation. Mark Walker, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 An audit means that the IRS will ask you for more documentation. Adriana Morga, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 But a consensus emerged that documentation and awareness weren’t enough. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 Applicants should be ready to show photos, receipts, and other documentation. Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2024 In photographic documentation, Stumble has the appearance of a harmless prank, and authorities would have been at pains to identify a crime. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Had his images instead been slotted into a lineage of photojournalistic documentation of the British working class, like the work of, say, Chris Killip, the story might have been different. Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 29 Feb. 2024 After their son was born, the Williams submitted copious amounts of documentation providing evidence of their home birth with their application for JJ’s birth certificate. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 29 Feb. 2024 The ratification will now be signed by the speaker of parliament and Hungary’s president within a few days, after which the remaining formalities, such as depositing accession documentation in Washington, are likely to be concluded swiftly. Reuters, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of documentation was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near documentation

Cite this Entry

“Documentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/documentation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

documentation

noun
doc·​u·​men·​ta·​tion ˌdäk-yə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce documentation (audio)
-ˌmen-
1
: the providing of documents as proof
2
: evidence in the form of documents
3
: written instructions for using a computer or computer program
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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