biography story synonym

Related Words and Phrases

Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250].

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Grammar Coach ™
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Advertisement

noun as in biography

Strongest matches

• autobiography

Weak matches

• personal history

Discover More

Related words.

Words related to life story are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word life story . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in written account of one's own life

• reminiscences
• self-portrayal

noun as in account of person's life

• confessions
• experiences
• life history
• personal account
• personal anecdote
• personal narrative
• personal record

noun as in history, biography

• curriculum vitae

noun as in the story of one's life

Viewing 5 / 6 related words

Example Sentences

At just 18, the crooner has millions of people—mostly young girls—clamoring to know more about his life story.

As a result, the exhibit falls short of showing Mary as real woman, as a protagonist in her own life story.

Thompson knows her life story and goes on to say, “What she represents is the American dream.”

He rests lavishly, depicted in a marble sarcophagus that stares up for eternity at the carved depictions of his life story.

The life story of this man would be largely built on our interviews with him, his mother, and the material we were now collecting.

"Well, this Loron lout finally got me," said Davy, resuming the thread of his life story.

When the life-story of an animal is given, the experiences described are typical and characteristic of its kind.

Here they have toiled and played and brought forth countless generations, and few can tell their life-story.

He could read the whole life-story of the patient self-sacrifice on the one hand and imposition on the other.

His life story he had offered in jest, but he understood Barr's.

Synonym of the day

Start each day with the Synonym of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

On this page you'll find 11 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to life story, such as: autobiography, diary, memoir, personal history, and profile.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Synonyms of 'biography' in American English

Synonyms of 'biography' in british english, additional synonyms, image of biography.

Video: pronunciation of biography

Browse alphabetically biography

• biodegradable
• All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'B'

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

• TheFreeDictionary
• Word / Article
• Starts with
• Free toolbar & extensions
• Word of the Day
• Free content

Synonyms for biography

• life history
• curriculum vitae

an account of the series of events making up a person's life

Related words.

• autobiography
• hagiography
• biochemistry
• bioclimatology
• biodegradable
• biodegradable pollution
• biodiversity
• bioelectricity
• bioengineering
• biofeedback
• bioflavinoid
• biogeographic
• biogeographical
• biogeographical region
• biogeography
• biographical
• biohazard suit
• biologic attack
• biological agent
• biological attack
• biological clock
• biological defence
• biological defense
• biological group
• biological process
• biological research
• biological science
• biological terrorism
• biological time
• biological warfare
• biological warfare defence
• biological warfare defense
• biological weapon
• biology department
• Biographical dictionary
• Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity
• Biographical Directory of the American Congress
• Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film
• Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names
• Biographical Evaluation and Screening of Troops
• Biographical film
• biographical intelligence
• Biographical Inventory
• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society
• Biographical Method
• Biographical Questionnaire
• biographically
• biographicly
• biographies
• Biographies of Living Persons
• Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon
• biographise
• Biographize
• Biography and Autobiography
• Biography and Genealogy Master Index
• Biography of living persons
• Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
• Biography of Nikola Tesla
• Biohackerdom
• BioHazard (robot)
• Biohazard Assessment Research Branch
• Biohazard Detection System
• Biohazard Level
• Facebook Share

• ABBREVIATIONS
• BIOGRAPHIES
• CALCULATORS
• CONVERSIONS
• DEFINITIONS

  Vocabulary      

What is another word for biography ?

Synonyms for biography baɪˈɒg rə fi, bi- bi·og·ra·phy, this thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word biography ., english synonyms and antonyms rate these synonyms: 2.4 / 20 votes.

History is a systematic record of past events. Annals and chronicles relate events with little regard to their relative importance, and with complete subserviency to their succession in time. Annals are yearly records; chronicles follow the order of time. Both necessarily lack emphasis, selection, and perspective. Archives are public records , which may be annals , or chronicles , or deeds of property, etc. Memoirs generally record the lives of individuals or facts pertaining to individual lives. A biography is distinctively a written account of one person's life and actions; an autobiography is a biography written by the person whose life it records. Annals , archives , chronicles , biographies , and memoirs and other records furnish the materials of history . History recounts events with careful attention to their importance, their mutual relations, their causes and consequences, selecting and grouping events on the ground of interest or importance. History is usually applied to such an account of events affecting communities and nations, tho sometimes we speak of the history of a single eminent life. Compare RECORD.

See synonyms for FICTION.

Synonyms: account , annals , archives , autobiography , chronicle , history , memoir , memorial , muniment , narration , narrative , recital , record , register , story

Princeton's WordNet Rate these synonyms: 2.0 / 26 votes

biography, life, life story, life history noun

an account of the series of events making up a person's life

Synonyms: sprightliness , life sentence , lifetime , spirit , life story , life history , life-time , life , lifespan , liveliness , living , career , aliveness , animation

Dictionary of English Synonymes Rate these synonyms: 4.5 / 2 votes

• biography noun

Synonyms: life , memoir , history of a person's life

Synonyms: biographical writings

PPDB, the paraphrase database Rate these paraphrases: 0.0 / 0 votes

List of paraphrases for "biography":

biographies , biographical , bio , sketch , biographer

How to pronounce biography?

How to say biography in sign language, words popularity by usage frequency, how to use biography in a sentence.

Rebecca West :

Just how difficult it is to write biography can be reckoned by anybody who sits down and considers just how many people know the real truth about his or her love affairs.

Sayyed Muhammad Akbar Agha :

There have been a lot of rumors lately about him. Some people are saying that he is not alive, i think the Taliban thought it was an important time to release his biography to give assurances that he is alive and present.

Oscar Wilde :

Biography lends to death a new terror.

Lytton Strachey :

Discretion is not the better part of biography.

Dan Goldman :

The web of lies George Santos used to defraud George Santos voters is a threat to our free and fair elections, and we have an obligation to ensure nothing like this ever happens again, his entire candidacy for Congress was predicated on a campaign of disinformation designed to deceive the voters. George Santos lied about George Santos entire biography and resume, including religion, family history, education, and professional experience. I am proud to join my fellow New York Congressman Ritchie Torres to introduce this critical piece of legislation to safeguard the democratic process.

Use the citation below to add these synonyms to your bibliography:

Style: MLA Chicago APA

"biography." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 30 Mar. 2024. < https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/biography >.

Discuss these biography synonyms with the community:

Report Comment

We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

You need to be logged in to favorite .

Create a new account.

Your name: * Required

Your email address: * Required

Pick a user name: * Required

Username: * Required

Password: * Required

Forgot your password?    Retrieve it

Are we missing a good synonym for biography ?

Image credit, the web's largest resource for, synonyms & antonyms, a member of the stands4 network, image or illustration of.

Free, no signup required :

Add to chrome, add to firefox, browse synonyms.com, are you a human thesaurus, what is the synonym for somniferous, nearby & related entries:.

• biographer noun
• biographic adj
• biographical adj
• biographies
• biographique
• biohazard noun
• biohazard suit noun
• bioinformatics
• bioleaching

Alternative searches for biography :

• Search for biography on Amazon

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of biography

Did you know.

So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography

In a library, the word biography refers both to a kind of book and to a section where books of that kind are found. Each biography tells the story of a real person's life. A biography may be about someone who lived long ago, recently, or even someone who is still living, though in the last case it must necessarily be incomplete. The term autobiography refers to a biography written by the person it's about. Autobiographies are of course also necessarily incomplete.

Sometimes biographies are significantly shorter than a book—something anyone who's been asked to submit a biography for, say, a conference or a community newsletter will be glad to know. Often the word in these contexts is shortened to bio , a term that can be both a synonym of biography and a term for what is actually a biographical sketch: a brief description of a person's life. These kinds of biographies—bios—vary, but many times they are only a few sentences long. Looking at bios that have been used in the same context can be a useful guide in determining what to put in your own.

Examples of biography in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Late Greek biographia , from Greek bi- + -graphia -graphy

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Dictionary Entries Near biography

biographize

Cite this Entry

“Biography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biography. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of biography, more from merriam-webster on biography.

Nglish: Translation of biography for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of biography for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about biography

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

The tangled history of 'it's' and 'its', more commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - mar. 29, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of biography noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Boswell’s biography of Johnson
• a biography by Antonia Fraser
• The book gives potted biographies of all the major painters.
• blockbuster
• unauthorized
• biography by
• biography of

Take your English to the next level

The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

If you’ve ever set foot in a bookstore, you’ve likely come across both autobiographies and biographies that tell about the lives of notable individuals. Let’s take a look at the most important differences between these non-fiction books.

What is a biography?

Typically written in the third person, a biography is a detailed story about a living or deceased person’s life. A third party writes this non-fiction account of someone’s life. Let’s say Person A is a famous singer who recently passed away. Person B researches and writes a fact-based story on the famous singer’s life from start to finish. Person B’s factual story of Person A’s life is a biography.

Types of biographies

Biographies don’t always take the same approach or follow the same structure. Some are more official, while others get more creative. Writers can choose from a few common biography types, including:

• Authorized biographies, which received the subject’s input and/or permission.
• Unauthorized biographies, which were written without the subject’s approval or input.
• Biographical novels, which were inspired by a real person’s life, but feature embellishments that may make the story more interesting.
• Group biographies, which focus on groups of people rather than a single person.

Get the most out of your documents with Word

Elevate your writing and collaborate with others - anywhere, anytime

Examples of biographies

Each biography is a window into someone’s life, offering unique insights and perspectives. From the struggles of historical figures to the triumphs of artistic icons, biographies are not just informative but can also be deeply inspiring. Here are a few examples:

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is a biography that describes the life of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cells were extremely important for medical research.
• Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie is a biography that describes Catherine the Great’s origins and rise to power as a Russian empress.
• Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera details the painter’s life and famous works.

What is an autobiography?

Usually written in the first person, an autobiography is when the author writes about their own life. This subjective account is unique because it allows the author to share details of their life that another writer might not have been able to uncover.

Types of autobiographies

There are two main types of autobiographies: complete autobiographies and memoirs. In a complete autobiography, the author begins their story with their roots or birth and ends the autobiography at their current age. In a memoir, the author writes about a specific period of their life. For example, a famous actor may begin a memoir by sharing their first role in a movie, rather than sharing details about the beginning of their life or their childhood.

Examples of autobiographies

Autobiographies offer a unique lens into the lives of their authors, providing firsthand accounts of their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Here are a few examples of notable autobiographies:

• In Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, Yogananda provides a first-hand account of his life and spiritual growth.
• In The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, Keller shares her life from birth until she was 22. She shares how she learned to communicate despite being blind and deaf.
• In The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, he shares his life from childhood through adulthood and how he impacted the civil rights movement.

In summary, a biography is a story of someone’s life, written by a different person, versus an autobiography where an author writes about their own life.

Why should you read biographies (or autobiographies)?

Biographies and autobiographies are a great way to get an in-depth look at the lives of politicians, musicians, historical figures, innovators, and more. If there’s a famous person that you admire, there’s likely a biography written about them or an autobiography that they wrote themselves that can teach you more about their accomplishments.

If you’re interested in writing a biography or autobiography, see how you can write, research, and organize a book using OneNote . Whether you’re just putting together your first draft or you’re still outlining your story , you can elevate your writing in real time with Microsoft Editor .

Get started with Microsoft 365

It’s the Office you know, plus the tools to help you work better together, so you can get more done—anytime, anywhere.

Topics in this article

More articles like this one.

What is independent publishing?

Avoid the hassle of shopping your book around to publishing houses. Publish your book independently and understand the benefits it provides for your as an author.

What are literary tropes?

Engage your audience with literary tropes. Learn about different types of literary tropes, like metaphors and oxymorons, to elevate your writing.

What are genre tropes?

Your favorite genres are filled with unifying tropes that can define them or are meant to be subverted.

What is literary fiction?

Define literary fiction and learn what sets it apart from genre fiction.

Everything you need to achieve more in less time

Get powerful productivity and security apps with Microsoft 365

Explore Other Categories

“They don’t have the courage to say the N-word": Baltimore mayor rips right-wing “DEI mayor” attacks

Right-wingers smear brandon scott, who was elected with over 70%, as a diversity hire after key bridge collapse, by igor derysh.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott hit back at critics who called him a “DEI mayor” after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse this week.

Right-wing social media users bizarrely labeled Scott, who was elected with over 70% of the vote, “Baltimore’s DEI mayor” following a press conference on the collapse.

MSNBC host Joy Reid noted that Scott was overwhelmingly elected in a predominantly Black city.

“So by right-wing logic, a ‘diversity hire’ would have been a white man,” Reid said Wednesday.

“I know, and we know, and you know very well that Black men, and young Black men in particular, have been the bogeyman for those who are racist and think that only straight, wealthy White men should have a say in anything,” Scott told Reid.

“We’ve been the bogeyman for them since the first day they brought us to this country, and what they mean by DEI in my opinion is duly elected incumbent,” he continued. “We know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word, and the fact that I don’t believe in their untruthful and wrong ideology. And I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from, scares them, because me being at my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life of being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk, and they should be afraid because that’s my purpose in life.”

A show covering topics such as depression/mental health, teaching how to overcome those challenges and do the work to manifest the life you want. Discover happiness and a peace to maintain consistency even through the turbulence life will continue to bring. Emotional intelligence will be a recurring theme on the podcast.

A Word with Sturg Jon Sturgis

• MAR 27, 2024

Introduction into the Power of Neuroplasticity

In this episode of ’A Word with Sturg’, your host, Jon Sturgis introduces neuroplasticity, an intriguing concept about the malleable nature of our brains. Neuroplasticity refers to the capacity of our brain to reorganize itself, foster new neural connections and evolve throughout life. It extends beyond the crucial developmental periods of childhood, undermining the theory that the brain is a ’fixed entity’. Our host highlights five core facets of neuroplasticity, namely learning and memory, behavioral flexibility, structural remodeling, neurogenesis, and resilience. With these capacities, surprisingly, the brain does not stop growing after childhood but continues throughout life. This continual evolution also impacts the recovery of stroke patients, mental health cases of depression and PTSD due to their impaired neuroplasticity. It also points to the potential to use neuroplasticity to overcome these challenges, despite the required rigorous, consistent work. Sturgis shares personal reflections on his battle with depression and mental health challenges, implying that the concept of neuroplasticity can be an empowering aid in such struggles. He also shares insights into neuroscientist Michael Merzenich’s pioneering work. Merzenich’s groundbreaking research with kittens, monkeys, and cortical brain maps perspicaciously debunked the theory that the brain is a ’hard-wired’ entity—changing the face of neuroscience forever. In line with this change, Sturgis shares this foundational knowledge about neuroplasticity, contending that it debunks notions of inherent inability to change. He encourages listeners to embrace the truth that with intentional effort and work, one can change their circumstances and manifest a new and positive reality.

• MAR 26, 2024

Breaking Generational Curses to become a Transitional Character

In this transformative episode of ”A Word With Sturg”, your host Jon Sturgis takes you on a deeply personal and illuminating journey of becoming a transitional character and breaking generational curses. Jon delves into his past struggles with mental health issues, highlighting the role of generational curses and destructive family patterns. He provides a compelling discourse on the stark reality of these patterns, their ripple effects on our lives, and most importantly, the potential within each of us to break free from them. Sturgis deftly defines what it means to be a transitional character - an individual who, within a single generation, chooses to alter the trajectory of their familial lineage despite the negative family patterns they inherited. He explores the key traits of a transitional character, such as taking accountability, making educated choices, refusing to perpetuate harmful behaviors, and actively working to create positive impacts for the future generations. The episode empathetically underscores the importance of conscious efforts, deliberate choices, and bravely stepping into the path of transformation even when it’s uncomfortable. Sturgis encourages listeners to become agents of change who are not merely affected by circumstances but who take the reins and consciously shape their life. He offers honest reflections on the challenges of making changes, conveys the profound impact it can have on you and your lineage, and ultimately, instills confidence to be the transitional character in your family story. In an inspiring conclusion, Jon speaks powerfully about the concept of neuroplasticity - the brain’s capacity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. The episode ends on a note of hope, urging listeners to see their struggles not as an inescapable cave but as a tunnel with light at the end. Join Jon for this episode of ”A Word With Sturg” to start your journey of transformation and understand the true significance of becoming a ”transitional character”.

• MAR 24, 2024

Planting Seeds

Join us in the inaugural episode of A Word with Sturg, "Planting Seeds," for an intimate look at our host's life journey and the pivotal moments that helped shape the person he is today. This riveting episode takes listeners through his turbulent childhood marked by familial discord, personal struggles, and the absence of a father figure. Yet, amid all the adversity, a passion for basketball, video games, and a resilient spirit helped our host sow the seeds of personal growth and optimism. In a revealing, honest dialogue, the host talks about his happy memories and the challenging phases of depression, feeling misplaced, and dealing with racism. Despite experiencing abandonment and maltreatment, his story also includes supportive figures like his uncle and a coach who served as silver linings in his life. Their belief in his capabilities ultimately sparked a transformative journey, leading him to a successful career in the restaurant industry. His narrative is peppered with failures and obstacles, such as professional setbacks, struggle with self-image, and depressive stages that brought him close to suicide. However, his story is not just about despair. It's about the determination and hard work that led to significant personal growth, a prosperous career, and a journey to self-discovery. This episode is not only his truth but also an inspiration to those grappling with their own personal or professional challenges. Although his past was rife with hardships, from battling depression to facing professional failures, our host found strength within himself. His journey to understanding neuroplasticity demonstrated the power of reshaping his thoughts, turning despair into hope. Despite initial professional setbacks, the host discovered his true passion and purpose while managing a restaurant, a role that brought him respect, deep satisfaction, and fulfilment. The episode ends on a powerful note of inspiration. He underscores that adversity can be a catalyst for personal growth and resilience. Our host openly shares his journey, igniting the flame of perseverance and optimism. Listen in to this inspiring episode filled with invaluable life lessons and insights - a must-listen for anyone seeking motivation and a positive perspective amidst life's trials and tribulations.

• © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.

Top Podcasts In Education

Puzzles & Games | Word Game: March 29, 2024

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Today's e-Edition

Things To Do

• Food & Drink
• Celebrities
• Pets & Animals
• Event Calendar

Puzzles & Games

TODAY’S WORD — EUPHORIC (EUPHORIC: yoo-FOR-ik: Having a strong feeling of happiness or well-being.)

Average mark 38 words

Time limit 45 minutes

Can you find 51 or more words in EUPHORIC? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — VULTURES vertu vest vulture ulster user usure uterus lest lues lure lust luster lute true rest result rule ruse rust rustle slue slur suer suet sure sutler suture

To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!

RULES OF THE GAME:

1. Words must be of four or more letters.

2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.

3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.

4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards

More in Puzzles & Games

Puzzles & Games | Bridge: March 29, 2024

Puzzles & Games | Word Game: March 28, 2024

Puzzles & Games | Bridge: March 28, 2024

Entertainment | ‘Dune: Awakening’ takes fans to Arrakis and forces them to survive a wasteland

Liturgy Resource

Word of life: april 2024.

• Word of Life

Office/Committee

• Pro-Life Activities

Year Published

April 2024 issue of Word of Life

Word of Life is a monthly resource for dioceses and parishes containing:

Feature of the Month Intercessions for Life Bulletin Quotes Bulletin Art

Subscribe  to receive by email! Previous issues can be found in the Word of Life archive .

Meta ban on Arabic word used to praise violence limits free speech, Oversight Board says

T he independent board that oversees content moderation of Facebook owner Meta is urging the company to loosen restrictions on “shaheed,” arguing the blanket ban on the Arabic word which has been used to praise acts of violence has led to widespread censorship of millions of users from Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities. 

Under its current policy, Meta removes “shaheed” when it's used in reference to people it classifies as dangerous.

That “blunt method” is "overbroad and disproportionately restricts freedom of expression and civic discourse,” by disregarding the word’s linguistic complexity and its many uses, and treating it instead as the equivalent of the English word ‘martyr,’” said Oversight Board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The result is the removal of content that does not praise terrorism or violence, the board said in its decision.

What's more, Meta’s policies that prohibit incitement to violence and support of designated terrorists and terrorist organizations, when properly enforced, already address the dangers posed by terrorist activity on the company's platforms, the board said.

Meta should only take down Facebook, Instagram and Thread posts containing “shaheed” when use of the word is tied to clear-cut signs of violence – such as imagery of weapons, a statement of intent or advocacy to take up arms or a reference to an attack – or when a post breaks other rules such as expressing approval of or glorifying a known terrorist, the board recommended.

Meta told USA TODAY that it would review the feedback and respond within 60 days.

Meta asked Oversight Board to weigh in on 'shaheed' policy

The Muslim and Arabic communities had called on Meta to lift the "shaheed" ban. Jewish and Israeli groups warned that changing the policy would increase antisemitic content on Meta's platforms.

In 2020, Meta conducted an internal review of its ban on “shaheed” when referring to individuals it has designated as dangerous, such as terrorist individuals or organizations, but did not reach a consensus.

Noting that "shaheed" is the most commonly removed word or phrase on Meta's platforms under the company's moderation rules, the social media giant asked the Oversight Board to weigh in more than a year ago. The panel is a diverse group of professors, lawyers, human rights activists and others from around the world that Meta taps for guidance on thorny policy questions.

"We want people to be able to use our platforms to share their views, and we have a set of policies to help them do so safely," Meta said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We aim to apply these policies fairly but doing so at scale brings global challenges, which is why in February 2023 we sought the Oversight Board's guidance on how we treat the word ‘shaheed’ when referring to designated individuals or organizations."

The controversy came into sharper focus following the Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7 during which an estimated 1,400 people were killed or taken hostage and during Israel’s subsequent months-long assault on Gaza that has killed 32,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The Oversight Board said it was finalizing its opinion on "shaheed" when Hamas attacked Israel, so it extended its research to observe use of the word during the Gaza conflict, but that additional research did not change the board's thinking.

What does shaheed mean?

The literal meaning of the Arabic word “shaheed” is “witness” and, while it roughly translates to “martyr” in English and is commonly used to praise those who die while committing violent acts, it has numerous meanings in Arabic and its interpretation largely depends on the context in which it is used. 

"Anyone killed unjustly, or anyone that died on their way to their studies, as well as those who have died for their homeland, are just a few of the circumstances that qualify someone to be referred to as Shaheed. The term is used in many circumstances, but the vast majority of those referred to as Shaheed are civilians," Nadim Nashif, founder and general director of 7amleh − The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media − said in a statement. "Meta needs to have a more contextualized and nuanced approach to this aspect of Arab and Islamic culture."

That approach is needed as people grieve the death toll in Gaza, Nashif said.

"As the largest social media company in the world, which generates billions of dollars in profits annually, Meta has the responsibility to have a more contextualized approach to moderating sensitive terms for the Arab world, as well as for all peoples," he said.

The Oversight Board agreed. Thorning-Schmidt said the current policy unfairly limits “people’s ability to debate and condemn the violence they see around them” and stops legitimate use of the word such as news reporting and discussion about victims of terrorism and other types of violence.

“It can even lead to those speaking about deceased loved ones having their content taken down in error,” Thorning-Schmidt said in a statement. 

Critics warn 'shaheed' shift could flood Facebook and Instagram with antisemitic posts

Pro-Palestinian groups have long complained they are unfairly targeted by Meta content moderation. Jewish and Israeli groups have voiced their own concerns that Meta's policies and enforcement have failed to stem the flood of antisemitic content on its platforms. Those tensions have only intensified during the Gaza conflict.

“Even with these policies on the books, we have seen an explosion in calls to terror against Jews and Israelis following Oct. 7,” Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder and executive director of CyberWell, an Israeli nonprofit organization that tracks online antisemitism, told USA TODAY. “These calls to terror and violence will be normalized and, more importantly, more people will be exposed to them, possibly leading to additional violence at a time there is already a lot of violence and targeted antisemitic attacks.”

CyberWell said its researchers flagged 300 pieces of content on Facebook that contained the word “shaheed” and praise for violent acts. It recommended that Meta flag content that mentions “shaheed” and “Jews” and that it increase oversight of variations of the word to identify and remove potentially violent content.

The policy shift the Oversight Board is recommending would unleash even more hate speech and violent threats on Meta’s platforms, according to Montemayor.

“Post Oct. 7, there seems to be an online trend of glorifying of terrorism happening on social media platforms and it should be concerning to all of us,” she said. “Terror groups and radical ideologies are actively leveraging the vulnerabilities of social media platforms and it’s the responsibility of the platforms to recognize that and have policies and content moderation practices to meet those challenges and not pretend like it’s not happening. It’s happening very clearly.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meta ban on Arabic word used to praise violence limits free speech, Oversight Board says

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of biography in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• This biography offers a few glimpses of his life before he became famous .
• Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought .
• The biography was a bit of a rush job .
• The biography is an attempt to uncover the inner man.
• The biography is woven from the many accounts which exist of things she did.
• exercise book
• novelistically
• young adult

biography | Intermediate English

• biographical

Examples of biography

Translations of biography.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

Hippocratic oath

a promise made by people when they become doctors to do everything possible to help their patients and to have high moral standards in their work

Sitting on the fence (Newspaper idioms)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add biography to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Overdose or Poisoning? A New Debate Over What to Call a Drug Death.

Grieving families want official records and popular discourse to move away from reflexive use of “overdose,” which they believe blames victims for their deaths.

By Jan Hoffman

The death certificate for Ryan Bagwell, a 19-year-old from Mission, Texas, states that he died from a fentanyl overdose.

His mother, Sandra Bagwell, says that is wrong.

On an April night in 2022, he swallowed one pill from a bottle of Percocet, a prescription painkiller that he and a friend bought earlier that day at a Mexican pharmacy just over the border. The next morning, his mother found him dead in his bedroom.

A federal law enforcement lab found that none of the pills from the bottle tested positive for Percocet. But they all tested positive for lethal quantities of fentanyl.

“Ryan was poisoned,” Mrs. Bagwell, an elementary-school reading specialist, said.

As millions of fentanyl-tainted pills inundate the United States masquerading as common medications, grief-scarred families have been pressing for a change in the language used to describe drug deaths. They want public health leaders, prosecutors and politicians to use “poisoning” instead of “overdose.” In their view, “overdose” suggests that their loved ones were addicted and responsible for their own deaths, whereas “poisoning” shows they were victims.

“If I tell someone that my child overdosed, they assume he was a junkie strung out on drugs,” said Stefanie Turner, a co-founder of Texas Against Fentanyl , a nonprofit organization that successfully lobbied Gov. Greg Abbott to authorize statewide awareness campaigns about so-called fentanyl poisoning.

“If I tell you my child was poisoned by fentanyl, you’re like, ‘What happened?’” she continued. “It keeps the door open. But ‘overdose’ is a closed door.”

For decades, “overdose” has been used by federal, state and local health and law enforcement agencies to record drug fatalities. It has permeated the vocabulary of news reports and even popular culture. But over the last two years, family groups have challenged its reflexive use.

They are having some success. In September, Texas began requiring death certificates to say “poisoning” or “toxicity” rather than “overdose” if fentanyl was the leading cause. Legislation has been introduced in Ohio and Illinois for a similar change. A proposed Tennessee bill says that if fentanyl is implicated in a death, the cause “must be listed as accidental fentanyl poisoning,” not overdose.

Meetings with family groups helped persuade Anne Milgram, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which seized more than 78 million fake pills in 2023, to routinely use “fentanyl poisoning” in interviews and at congressional hearings.

In a hearing last spring, Representative Mike Garcia , Republican of California, commended Ms. Milgram’s word choice, saying, “You’ve done an excellent job of calling these ‘poisonings.’ These are not overdoses. The victims don’t know they’re taking fentanyl in many cases. They think they’re taking Xanax, Vicodin, OxyContin.”

Last year, efforts to describe fentanyl-related deaths as poisonings began emerging in bills and resolutions in several states, including Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Typically, these bills establish “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness” weeks or months as public education initiatives.

“Language is really important because it shapes policy and other responses,” said Leo Beletsky , an expert on drug policy enforcement at Northeastern University School of Law. In the increasingly politicized realm of public health, word choice has become imbued with ever greater messaging power. During the pandemic, for example, the label “anti-vaxxer” fell into disrepute and was replaced by the more inclusive “vaccine-hesitant.”

Addiction is an area undergoing convulsive language change, and words like “alcoholic” and “addict” are now often seen as reductive and stigmatizing. Research shows that terms like “substance abuser” can even influence the behavior of doctors and other health care workers toward patients.

The word “poison” has emotional force, carrying reverberations from the Bible and classic fairy tales. “‘Poisoning’ feeds into that victim-villain narrative that some people are looking for,” said Sheila P. Vakharia , a senior researcher at the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group.

But while “poisoning” offers many families a buffer from stigma, others whose loved ones died from taking illegal street drugs find it problematic. Using “poisoning” to distinguish certain deaths while letting others be labeled “overdose” creates a judgmental hierarchy of drug-related fatalities, they say.

Fay Martin said her son, Ryan, a commercial electrician, was prescribed opioid painkillers for a work injury. When he grew dependent on them, a doctor cut off his prescription. Ryan turned to heroin. Eventually, he went into treatment and stayed sober for a time. But, ashamed of his history of addiction, he kept to himself and gradually began to use drugs again. Believing that he was buying Xanax, he died from taking a fentanyl-tainted pill in 2021, the day after his 29th birthday.

Although he, like thousands of victims, died from a counterfeit pill, his mourning mother feels as if others look at her askance.

“When my son died, I felt that stigma from people, that there was personal responsibility involved because he had been using illicit drugs,” said Ms. Martin, from Corpus Christi, Texas. “But he didn’t get what he bargained for. He didn’t ask for the amount of fentanyl that was in his system. He wasn’t trying to die. He was trying to get high.”

To a growing number of prosecutors , if someone was poisoned by fentanyl, then the person who sold the drug was a poisoner — someone who knew or should have known that fentanyl could be lethal. More states are passing fentanyl homicide laws.

Some people note that the idea of a poisoner-villain doesn’t account for the complications of drug use. “That’s a little too simplified, because a lot of people who sell substances or share them with friends are also in the throes of a substance use disorder,” said Rachael Cooper , who directs an anti-stigma initiative at Shatterproof , an advocacy group.

People who sell or share drugs are usually many steps removed from those who mixed the batches. They would likely be unaware that their drugs contained deadly quantities of fentanyl, she said.

“In a nonpoliticized world, ‘poisoning’ would be accurate, but the way it’s being used now, it is reframing what is likely an accidental event and reimagines it as an intentional crime,” said Mr. Beletsky, who directs Northeastern’s Changing the Narrative project, which examines addiction stigma.

In toxicology and medicine, “overdose” and “poison” have value-neutral definitions, said Kaitlyn Brown , the clinical managing director of America’s Poison Centers , which represents and collects data from 55 centers nationwide.

“But the public is going to understand terminology differently than people who are immersed in the field, so I think there are important distinctions and nuances that the public can miss,” she said.

“Overdose” describes a greater dose of a substance than was considered safe, Dr. Brown explained. The effect may be harmful (heroin) or not (ibuprofen).

“Poisoning” means that harm indeed occurred. But it can be a poisoning from countless substances, including lead, alcohol and food, as well as fentanyl.

Both terms are used whether an event results in survival or death.

Until about 15 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an esteemed source of data on national drug deaths, often used both terms interchangeably. A C.D.C. report detailing rising drug-related deaths in 2006 was titled “Unintentional Drug Poisoning in the United States.” It also referred to “unintentional drug overdose deaths.”

To streamline the growing drug fatality data from federal and state agencies, the C.D.C. shifted exclusively to “overdose.” (It now also collects statistics on reported nonfatal overdoses .) The C.D.C.’s Division of Overdose Prevention notes that “overdose” refers just to drugs, while “poisoning” refers to other substances, such as cleaning products.

When asked what unbiased word or phrase might best characterize drug deaths, experts in drug policy and treatment struggled.

Some preferred “overdose,” because it is entrenched in data reporting. Others use “accidental overdose” to underscore lack of intention. (Most overdoses are, in fact, accidental.) News outlets occasionally use both, reporting that a drug overdose took place due to fentanyl poisoning.

Addiction medicine experts note that because most of the street drug supply is now adulterated, “poisoning” is, indeed, the most straightforward, accurate term. Patients who buy cocaine and methamphetamine die because of fentanyl in the product, they note. Those addicted to fentanyl succumb from bags that have more toxic mixtures than they had anticipated.

Ms. Martin, whose son was killed by fentanyl, bitterly agrees. “He was poisoned,” she said. “He got the death penalty and his family got a life sentence.”

Jan Hoffman writes about behavioral health and health law. Her wide-ranging subjects include opioids, tribes, reproductive rights, adolescent mental health and vaccine hesitancy. More about Jan Hoffman