nostalgia

[ no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh- ]
See synonyms for: nostalgianostalgic on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days.

  2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.

Origin of nostalgia

1
First recorded in 1770–80; from New Latin, from Greek nóst(os) “a return home” + -algia -algia

Other words from nostalgia

  • nos·tal·gic, adjective

Words Nearby nostalgia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nostalgia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nostalgia

nostalgia

/ (nɒˈstældʒə, -dʒɪə) /


noun
  1. a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events, etc

  2. the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc

  1. longing for home or family; homesickness

Origin of nostalgia

1
C18: New Latin (translation of German Heimweh homesickness), from Greek nostos a return home + -algia

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012