autobiography
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
An account of a person's life written by that person themselves.
A literary genre consisting of self-written life narratives, often exploring personal development, historical context, and introspection.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a structured, complete narrative rather than just diary entries; often has reflective or analytical elements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling follows national conventions (autobiography in both).
Connotations
Slightly more associated with literary tradition in UK usage; in US, sometimes used more broadly for celebrity memoirs.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
autobiography of [person]autobiography by [author][person]'s autobiographyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “living autobiography (metaphorical)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in publishing contexts.
Academic
Common in literary studies, history, and sociology.
Everyday
Used when discussing books, famous people, or personal projects.
Technical
Specific genre in literary criticism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is autobiographing her experiences as a diplomat.
- He decided to autobiography his journey.
American English
- She is writing her autobiography.
- He autobiographed his career in a new book.
adverb
British English
- He wrote autobiographically about his childhood.
- The novel is autobiographically inspired.
American English
- She speaks autobiographically in her lectures.
- The film is based autobiographically on real events.
adjective
British English
- The autobiographical elements in the novel are striking.
- She gave an autobiographical talk.
American English
- The book has strong autobiographical details.
- His speech was highly autobiographical.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I read an autobiography about a famous footballer.
- She wants to write her autobiography one day.
- His autobiography describes his early life in India.
- The autobiography became a bestseller last year.
- The politician's autobiography revealed several previously unknown facts about the election.
- Writing an autobiography requires deep self-reflection and honesty.
- Her autobiography deftly intertwines personal narrative with the socio-political landscape of the era.
- The author's autobiographical account transcends mere recollection, offering a profound critique of cultural memory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AUTO (self) + BIO (life) + GRAPHY (writing) = writing about one's own life.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A BOOK (one writes one's own story).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'автобиография' (curriculum vitae style document) – English 'autobiography' is a literary work, not a formal CV.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'autobiography' to mean any biography (must be self-written).
- Misspelling as 'autobiograhy' or 'autobigraphy'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key characteristic of an autobiography?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An autobiography typically covers the author's entire life chronologically, while a memoir focuses on specific aspects, periods, or themes.
No, by definition, an autobiography is self-written. If written by another person, it is a biography.
No, an autobiographical novel is a work of fiction based on the author's life, whereas an autobiography is presented as non-fiction.
There is no set length; it can range from a short booklet to multiple volumes, depending on the scope and detail.