'autobiographic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autobiographia', where 'autos' meant 'self', 'bios' meant 'life' and 'graphein' meant 'to write'.

'autobiographia' passed into New Latin as 'autobiographia', then into French as 'autobiographie', and into English as 'autobiography'; the adjective 'autobiographic' was later formed from the noun.

Initially it meant 'a written account of one's own life'; over time it has retained this core meaning and extended to describe works or elements that draw on an author's life.