What does commentary mean?
Commentary refers to a sustained series of spoken or written remarks that explain, describe, or offer opinions about an event, a text, or a state of affairs. In broadcasting, it describes the real-time narration that accompanies live coverage of sport, politics, or ceremonies, while in scholarship it denotes a structured interpretive work that illuminates a classic text, such as a commentary on scripture or philosophy. The word also carries a broader cultural sense: 'social commentary' refers to art, literature, or film that critiques or reflects upon society. Derived from the Latin commentarius, a notebook of observations, commentary has long been associated with thoughtful, often expert interpretation. It is typically neutral to formal in tone and appears frequently in journalism, academia, and public discourse, making it a versatile word for anyone describing analysis, opinion, or narration.
nounA spoken or written set of remarks explaining, describing, or giving opinions on an event, text, or situation; also an expression of opinion on current events.
- A continuous series of explanatory or descriptive remarks accompanying an event, such as a sports match or ceremony.
- A written explanation or interpretation of a text, such as a scholarly commentary on a book or scripture.
- Expression of opinion or criticism on current affairs, as in political or social commentary.
"The match was broadcast with lively commentary from two veteran sports journalists."
"Her running commentary kept the audience engaged throughout the entire ceremony."
"The scholar published a detailed commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics."
Standard plural for the noun; used especially when referring to multiple scholarly works or sets of remarks.
"His collected commentaries on Shakespeare span three volumes."
The word 'commentary' traces back to the Latin 'commentarius', meaning a notebook of everyday notes — the same root that gave us 'comment', making every commentary a descendant of ancient marginal scribbles.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of commentary
Commentary derives from the Latin commentarius (or commentarium), meaning a personal notebook or collection of notes, itself rooted in the verb comminisci, to devise or think out. It entered English in the late Middle Ages via medieval Latin usage associated with scholarly annotation of authoritative texts. Cognates include comment, commentator, and commend, all drawing on the same Latin stock of terms connected with reflection and remark.
Related word forms
How commentary is actually used
Generally neutral to formal in register. Commonly used in broadcasting ('live commentary'), academia ('a commentary on...'), and media analysis ('social commentary'). Plural is 'commentaries'.
Easily confused with commentary
A comment is a single remark or note, whereas a commentary is a continuous series of explanatory or evaluative remarks.
A commentator is the person who delivers commentary, not the commentary itself.