semi-autobiographical
adjective
semi-au·to·bio·graph·i·cal
ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˌbī-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
variants
or less commonly semiautobiographical
: partly autobiography and partly fiction : being a fictionalized account of the author's life
a semi-autobiographical novel/film
… James Herriott's semiautobiographical story of his return from WWII to family and friends.—
TV Guide
TV GuideThe play is a convincing picture of a brief but powerful relationship, based on Owen's copious letters and the semi-autobiographical account of Sassoon's George Sherston.—Simon Berry
Simon BerryPedro Almodóvar's most recent drama is one of his most personal: a semi-autobiographical study of an aging, isolated filmmaker who reconnects with an estranged colleague … and starts reassessing his own life.—Norman Wilner
Norman WilnerIn this semiautobiographical take on her own life, [Pamela] Adlon plays "Sam," a working actress and single parent in Los Angeles.—Kit Steinkellner
Kit Steinkellner
also
: of, relating to, or in the style of a semi-autobiographical work
a semi-autobiographical protagonist/character/role
Through semiautobiographical storytelling, Jenna Dawn Maclellan's project will address the challenges of daily life in the North … —The Sudbury Star
The Sudbury Star The acclaimed artist … is known for the semi-autobiographical nature of his work, which riffs on his own youth in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam. —Guy Dixon
Guy Dixon Is this all meant to be a semi-autobiographical comment on what fame does to relationships, since [Darren] Aronofsky and [Jennifer] Lawrence are an item in real life? —Ryan Lambie
Ryan Lambie Examples of semi-autobiographical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film, the actress plays Penny Lane, a groupie for the fictional band Stillwater.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 26 Feb. 2025
By Sunday, news of the ban reached the Oscar-winning actress, whose first book, the semi-autobiographical children’s story Freckleface Strawberry, was published in 2007.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Variety understands that the film is semi-autobiographical and is about the relationship between a father and his two young boys over the course of a day in the Nigerian city.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
The dance between the two is at the heart of Jake Brasch’s semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy about a college student who, kicked out of his theater program in New York for alcohol abuse, returns to Colorado and finds that his declining grandparents may be his lifeline.
—Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2025
In 1984, after 10 seasons of the 19th-century period western series — a semi-autobiographical look at Laura Ingalls Wilder's life based on her books — the Ingalls family's story culminated in Little House: The Last Farewell.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
At the heart of Mo, a semi-autobiographical Netflix dramedy from co-creator and star Mo Amer, is the tension between Mo the regular guy and Mo the stateless survivor, a man of estimable charms and abilities who is legally prohibited from establishing a legitimate career.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025
Hell's Kitchen, a semi-autobiographical musical about her life growing up in Manhattan, premiered Off Broadway in 2023, transferred to Broadway the following year, and won Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical (Maleah Joi Moon) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Kecia Lewis).
—Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Four decades after the television adaptation of Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical book series Little House on the Prairie captured the hearts of audiences, the author’s tales of early life in 1870s Minnesota are coming back to the screen.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2025
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Hannah Malach, WWD, 26 Feb. 2025
By Sunday, news of the ban reached the Oscar-winning actress, whose first book, the semi-autobiographical children’s story Freckleface Strawberry, was published in 2007.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Variety understands that the film is semi-autobiographical and is about the relationship between a father and his two young boys over the course of a day in the Nigerian city.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
The dance between the two is at the heart of Jake Brasch’s semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy about a college student who, kicked out of his theater program in New York for alcohol abuse, returns to Colorado and finds that his declining grandparents may be his lifeline.
—Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2025
In 1984, after 10 seasons of the 19th-century period western series — a semi-autobiographical look at Laura Ingalls Wilder's life based on her books — the Ingalls family's story culminated in Little House: The Last Farewell.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
At the heart of Mo, a semi-autobiographical Netflix dramedy from co-creator and star Mo Amer, is the tension between Mo the regular guy and Mo the stateless survivor, a man of estimable charms and abilities who is legally prohibited from establishing a legitimate career.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025
Hell's Kitchen, a semi-autobiographical musical about her life growing up in Manhattan, premiered Off Broadway in 2023, transferred to Broadway the following year, and won Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical (Maleah Joi Moon) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Kecia Lewis).
—Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Four decades after the television adaptation of Wilder’s beloved semi-autobiographical book series Little House on the Prairie captured the hearts of audiences, the author’s tales of early life in 1870s Minnesota are coming back to the screen.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Semi-autobiographical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semi-autobiographical. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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