anecdote
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a short and often funny story about something that really happened to you or someone else.
n.a brief account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting in nature.
Simple“He told a funny anecdote about his first day at work to make us laugh.”
In context“The speaker opened his presentation with a charming anecdote about his early failures, immediately building a rapport with the audience.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a story used to support an idea that is not based on facts or science.
n.an account used to support an argument that lacks scientific or statistical verification.
Simple“You cannot prove the medicine works just by sharing one person's anecdote.”
In context“While the researcher acknowledged the compelling nature of the patient's anecdote, she insisted that clinical trials were necessary to prove efficacy.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'anecdotal evidence'.
Teacher's tipIn academic contexts, this sense is often used dismissively to suggest that a story is not sufficient proof for a general claim.
Antonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to tell short stories about real people or events.
v.to relate or recount anecdotes; to engage in the telling of brief personal narratives.
Simple“They spent the whole evening anecdoted about their travels through Europe.”
In context“The retired professor loved to anecdote about his former colleagues, painting vivid pictures of the university's history.”
UsageThis verb form is significantly less common than the noun and is typically found in formal or older literature.
Teacher's tipAdvise students to stick to the noun form; the verb is rare and may sound unnatural in modern conversation.
“He offers me a coffee when I arrive at his home on a sweltering June day, but then keeps getting distracted from making it by his own anecdotes.”
“Personal anecdotes from online or the people you know may not apply to your situation.”
Late 17ᵗʰ c., from French anecdote, from Ancient Greek ἀνέκδοτος (anékdotos, “accounts unpublished”), from ἀν- (an-, “not, un-”) + ἔκδοτος (ékdotos, “published”), from ἐκδίδωμι (ekdídōmi, “I publish”), from ἐκ- (ek-, “out”) + δίδωμι (dídōmi, “I give”). Virtually identical cognates in other European languages – French anecdote, German Anekdote, Spanish anécdota, among others.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.