narrative

1 of 2

noun

nar·​ra·​tive ˈner-ə-tiv 

ˈna-rə-

1

a

: something that is narrated : story, account

He is writing a detailed narrative of his life on the island.

b

: a way of presenting or understanding a situation or series of events that reflects and promotes a particular point of view or set of values

The rise of the Tea Party and the weakness of the Obama economy have fueled a Republican narrative about Big Government as a threat to liberty …

—Michael Grunwald

The media narrative around Kelly's appointment had two central ideas … : He would calm and professionalize the White House, and he would provide a more measured leadership style than his boss.

—Perry Bacon, Jr.

2

: the art or practice of narration

… depended not on narrative but on intensity derived from the verity to make the book jump.

—Stanley Kauffmann

3

: the representation in art of an event or story

also : an example of such a representation

the narrative of St. Joan of Arc

narratively adverb

narrative

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the form of a story or representing a story

a narrative poem

narrative paintings

2

: of or relating to the process of telling a story

the author's narrative style

the novel's narrative structure

Synonyms of narrative

Noun

• story
• chronology
• commentary
• history
• account
• report
• narration
• record

Examples of narrative in a Sentence

Noun

He is writing a detailed narrative of his life on the island.

People have questioned the accuracy of his narrative.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bryan pushed back at the time, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026

Hassan Babar, the festival’s artistic director, said such stories should not merely serve as counter-narratives. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The narrative film jury was comprised of directors Cary Joji Fukunaga and Fernando Eimbcke, actress Ella Rumpf, producer Julie Billy and Walter Fasano, director, film editor and screenwriter. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

The rise of major metropolitan centers around the world, for example, brought with it Baudelaire’s flâneur just as transcontinental railroads made narrative skips in space and time more legible. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing narrative

• counter-narrative

Kids Definition

narrative

noun

nar·​ra·​tive ˈnar-ət-iv 

1

: something (as a story) that is told or written

2

: the art or practice of telling stories

narrative adjective