narrative
NAIR-uh-tiv
/ˈnærətɪv/
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
Emphasizes the sequence, connection, and meaning of events to form a cohesive story arc, rather than just listing facts.
The story behind the word. The word 'narrative' traces back to the Latin 'narrare' (to tell), which comes from 'gnarus' (knowing or expert). At its heart, a narrative is a way of sharing expert knowledge—telling a story is simply sharing what you know about a sequence of events.
Word relationships
- story: Story is a general, everyday word, while narrative is more formal and often refers to the structure of how the story is told.
- chronicle: A chronicle is a simple chronological list of events, while a narrative connects those events with cause and effect.
- exposition: Exposition is writing that explains or informs without telling a story.
Commonly confused with
- narration: Narration is the physical act of telling a story (like a voiceover), while a narrative is the story itself.
Word family
- narrate (verb): To tell a story or describe a series of events.
- narrator (noun): A person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel.
Collocations
- compelling narrative
- personal narrative
- narrative arc
- historical narrative
Example sentences
- "The novel's narrative is told from three different perspectives, which keeps the reader guessing." A literary analysis of a complex novel.
- "To sell a product, you need to build a compelling narrative that connects with the customer's emotions." Discussing the power of storytelling in marketing.
Memory hook
Think of a 'narrator' in a documentary who 'knows' the story and shares it with you. A story told by someone who knows.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a simple list of disconnected facts or a dry data table.
Fun facts
- Psychologists use the term 'narrative identity' to describe the internalized, evolving story that a person reconstructs to make sense of their life.
Related words
Explore more words
reminiscence, chronicle, sequence, commentary, sequential, continuity
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