What does journal mean?
A journal is a written record of experiences, thoughts, observations, or events. In personal use, it often resembles a diary, although a journal may be more regularly maintained, organized, or focused on a particular theme, such as travel, work, health, or creative writing. The word can also refer to a periodical publication, including academic and professional journals that present research, commentary, or news. A third established meaning is an official record, such as a court's journal or a company's journal of transactions. In these senses, “journal” implies an ongoing and systematically kept account. The word is useful because it covers both private self-documentation and public, formal record-keeping, while “diary” is usually more specifically personal and “periodical” emphasizes a regularly published publication.
A record in which events, thoughts, experiences, or observations are written down, especially a personal diary; also a periodical publication containing articles, news, or commentary on a particular subject.
"He wrote in his journal every evening before dinner."
The personal sense overlaps with “diary,” while the publication sense is common in academic, legal, and professional contexts.
To record events, experiences, or observations in a journal.
"She journaled her daily walks for several months."
This verb is less common than the noun and is often used in the form “journaling,” especially in American English.
The plural is used for multiple personal or institutional records and for multiple periodical publications.
"The archive preserves journals kept by several early explorers."
The word journal began as a daily record, from the Latin diurnalis, meaning “of a day”; it still carries that sense even when it names a magazine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of journal
The word comes through French journal, ultimately from the Latin diurnalis, an adjective meaning “of a day” or “daily.” The original sense was a day-to-day record, reflecting the practice of recording events in sequence. The word later developed the meaning of a periodical or public record, and it also gave rise to related forms such as journalism and journalist.
Related word forms
How journal is actually used
In the personal sense, journal and diary overlap, but journal can suggest a more regular, reflective, or professional record. In the publication sense, it refers to a periodical, often issued on a regular schedule. The spelling “journalled” is common in British English, while “journaled” is common in American English.
Easily confused with journal
A diary is a personal, usually dated record of a person's daily life, while a journal may also refer to a periodical publication or a more formal record of events.
A journal is a publication or written record, whereas journalism is the activity of collecting, writing, and reporting news and other information.