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commentary

n. C / U
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈkɑmənˌtɛɹi// UK //kˈɒməntɹˌi// com·men·tary

n. a set of notes or comments that explain a book, a movie, or a sports event. It helps you understand the details or the meaning of what is happening.

n. a series of explanatory notes or a spoken account providing descriptive or critical analysis of an event or text. Often used in the context of sports broadcasting or academic literary analysis.


SIMPLE

The DVD includes a director's commentary on every scene.

CONTEXTUAL

The live radio commentary helped the fans follow the game while they were driving home from work.

COMPLEX

His latest book provides a sharp social commentary on the decline of rural industries, blending personal anecdotes with rigorous economic data to illustrate the human cost of policy shifts.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French commentaire, from Latin commentārius, commentārium (“notebook”), compare French commentaire. See comment.

Usage

Often used with the prepositions 'on' or 'about'. When referring to a specific set of notes, it is countable; when referring to the general activity of commenting, it is often uncountable.

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