Phrase guide

grand narrative

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A metanarrative; a narrative that provides legitimation of some given set of narratives and that is itself self-legitimising.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: critical theory

Examples

  • 1991 [Routledge], David Bernstein, 7: Grand Narratives, David Wood (editor), On Paul Ricoeur: Narrative and Interpretation, 2002, Reprint, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), page 102, Grand narratives, or meta-narratives as they are sometimes called, are second-order narratives which seek to narratively articulate and legitimate some concrete first-order practices or narratives. Typically, a grand narrative will make reference to some ultimate originating principle or ultimate telos; it will seek to place existing practices in a position of progress toward or regress from the originating principle or ultimate end.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: grand récit — Translations
  • French: métarécit — Translations
  • German: Meistererzählung — Translations
  • German: Metanarrativ — Translations