documentation
noun
doc·u·men·ta·tion
ˌdä-kyə-mən-ˈtā-shən 
-ˌmen-,
-kyü-
1
: the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents
2
a
: the provision of documents in substantiation
also
: documentary evidence
b(1)
: the use of historical documents
(2)
: conformity to historical or objective facts
(3)
: the provision of footnotes, appendices, or addenda referring to or containing documentary evidence
4
: the usually printed instructions, comments, and information for using a particular piece or system of computer software or hardware
Examples of documentation in a Sentence
You cannot visit the country unless you have the proper documentation.
Keep your receipts as documentation of your purchases.
Can you provide documentation of the claims you're making?
The program's documentation is poorly written.
Recent Examples on the Web
The documentation should show the commercial rationale for the advance, a repayment schedule, any security or subordination terms, and actions consistent with a creditor relationship (for example, formal demands for payment, enforcement steps or arms‑length interest rates).
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Raskin's work on documentation and testing, combined with his technical acumen, gave him outsized influence within the young company.
—Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Subprime auto loans, even questionable ones like the low documentation loans Tricolor offered, are a very different animal than the subprime mortgage loans of the early years of this century.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Submit additional documentation on employment, health insurance and financial stability.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for documentation
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show current usage.
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Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Raskin's work on documentation and testing, combined with his technical acumen, gave him outsized influence within the young company.
—Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Subprime auto loans, even questionable ones like the low documentation loans Tricolor offered, are a very different animal than the subprime mortgage loans of the early years of this century.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Submit additional documentation on employment, health insurance and financial stability.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for documentation
Cite this Entry
“Documentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/documentation. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
documentation
noun
doc·u·men·ta·tion
ˌdäk-yə-mən-ˈtā-shən
-ˌmen-
1
: the providing of documents as proof
2
: evidence in the form of documents
3
: written instructions for using a computer or computer program
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