Anecdote: Meaning, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：a short true story (anecdote)

anecdote 🔊

/ˈænɪkdəʊt/

A short, often funny, true story about a person or event.

Anecdote illustration: friends sharing a personal story in a cozy cafe setting

a short true story 🔊

➕

/ə ʃɔːt truː ˈstɔːri/

A brief, often amusing or interesting account of a real incident or person, typically used to illustrate a point or add a personal touch.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'anekdotos' (unpublished), from 'an-' (not) + 'ekdotos' (published).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'a neck' and 'dote'. Picture someone doting on (lovingly telling) a funny story about a necktie incident.

📖 Example

To make the history lesson more engaging, the teacher shared an anecdote about Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment. 🔊 To make the history lesson more engaging, the teacher shared a short true story about Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment.

🔗 Collocations

share an anecdote – to tell a short personal story

personal anecdote – a story from one's own experience

amusing anecdote – a funny or entertaining short story

🔄 Synonyms

tale (n.) – A story, which may be true or fictitious.

story (n.) – An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

yarn (n.) – A long or rambling story, especially one that is implausible.

🌱 Derivatives

anecdotal (adj.) – Based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.

anecdotally (adv.) – In a way that is based on personal accounts.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Greek, the word entered English via French. It initially referred to secret or unpublished stories, particularly those about the private lives of public figures. Over time, it broadened to mean any short, amusing true story used to illustrate a point.