Commentary is spoken or written explanation and analysis that helps people understand what they're watching, reading, or experiencing. When sportscasters provide commentary during a basketball game, they explain the plays, discuss strategy, and offer insights beyond what viewers can see for themselves. When a historian writes commentary on an old document, she helps readers understand its context and significance.

Commentary includes both description and interpretation. A play-by-play announcer describes what's happening: “Jones passes to Smith.” Commentary adds interpretation: “That's a smart pass because it draws the defense away from their best scorer.” In books, commentary might explain difficult passages or connect ideas. Biblical commentary helps readers understand ancient texts. Literary commentary explores what an author might have meant or why a story matters.

The word also refers to expressing opinions about current events. News programs feature political commentary, where experts analyze and discuss what's happening in government. When someone offers commentary on a situation, they're sharing their perspective, which involves both reporting and interpreting facts.

Sometimes people use the phrase “no comment” when they don't want to provide commentary on something. And when someone says an event is “a commentary on” society, they mean it reveals something significant about how we live.