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document

n. · v.
US //ˈdɑkjəmɛnt// doc·u·ment
  1. 1 official paper (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an official paper that gives information or proof of something.

    an original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of a claim or transaction.

    Example

    You must bring a legal document, like a passport, to the bank.

    Example

    The solicitor requested every relevant document pertaining to the property sale to ensure the title was clear of any previous claims.
  2. 2 digital file (n.)
    A2 Elementary Computing

    a computer file that contains text, like a letter or a report.

    a digital file containing text or multimedia content, typically created with a word processor.

    Example

    I saved the document on my desktop so I could find it easily.

    Example

    The software allows multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously, tracking changes in real time across different devices.
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  1. 3 to record (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to record the details of something in writing, photos, or film.

    to record information in written, photographic, or other form to create a permanent account.

    Example

    The photographer wanted to document how people live in small villages.

    Example

    Historians have spent decades trying to document the daily lives of ordinary citizens during the industrial revolution using surviving journals and letters.
  2. 4 to provide evidence (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    to provide papers or evidence to prove that something is true.

    to furnish with documents or evidence necessary to establish facts or support a specific argument.

    Example

    You need to document your expenses if you want the company to pay you back.

    Example

    The research paper was meticulously documented, citing over fifty primary sources to support its controversial thesis.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum.

Word family

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