amnesia

American  

[am-nee-zhuh] / æmˈni ʒə /

noun

1. loss of a large block of interrelated memories; complete or partial loss of memory caused by brain injury, shock, etc.

---

amnesia British  

/ æmˈniːzɪˌæk, æmˈniːsɪk, æmˈniːzjə, -ʒjə, -zɪə, -zɪk /

noun

1. a defect in memory, esp one resulting from pathological cause, such as brain damage or hysteria

---

amnesia Scientific  

/ ăm-nē′zhə /

1. Partial or total loss of memory, usually caused by brain injury or shock.

---

amnesia Cultural  

1. A loss of memory, especially one brought on by some distressing or shocking experience.

---

Discover More

A common variant is selective amnesia; the term is applied to public officials who, when questioned about alleged wrongdoing, profess that they cannot remember.

Other Word Forms

• amnesiac adjective
• amnestic adjective

Etymology

Origin of amnesia

1780–90; < New Latin < Greek amnēsía, variant of amnēstía oblivion; perhaps learnedly formed from mnē-, stem of mimnḗskesthai to remember ( mnemonic ) + -s- + -ia -ia. See amnesty

Example Sentences

Some "suffer strokes upon hearing the news, others experience insomnia and amnesia", he told AFP.

From Barron's

"No more amnesia. No more covering each other's backs. No more secrets and lies."

From BBC

For me, these bits and pieces of one man’s story connect to the longer and more tragic tale of the American-Afghan century, now erased in near-total amnesia.

From Salon

Another generation called that the “greater fool theory,” but rising equity prices also power an amnesia machine.

From Barron's

The millennial icon, as luminous as ever, plays a filthy-rich hotel heiress named Sierra Belmont, who develops amnesia after bumping her head in a skiing accident.

From Los Angeles Times