'autobiography' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'autos' meaning 'self', 'bios' meaning 'life', and 'graphein' meaning 'to write', combined to form Greek 'autobiographia'.

'autobiography' entered English via Medieval/Modern borrowings (compare French 'autobiographie' and Latinized forms) and became the modern English word 'autobiography'.

Initially it referred to the act or practice of writing one's own life; over time it came to mean the written account or book describing a person's life written by that person.