oblivion
Americannoun
-
the state of being completely forgotten or unknown.
a former movie star now in oblivion.
-
the state of forgetting or of being oblivious.
the oblivion of sleep.
-
the act or process of dying out; complete annihilation or extinction.
If we don't preserve their habitat, the entire species will pass into oblivion.
-
Archaic. official disregard or overlooking of offenses; pardon; amnesty.
noun
-
the condition of being forgotten or disregarded
-
the state of being mentally withdrawn or blank
-
law an intentional overlooking, esp of political offences; amnesty; pardon
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oblivion
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oblīviōn-, stem of oblīviō “a forgetting,” equivalent to oblīv(īscī) “to forget” + -iō -ion; see ob-
Explanation
Oblivion is the state of being forgotten. Your uncle dreamed of being a rock star, but after recording one hit song, he faded into oblivion. Oblivion can also mean "total forgetfulness" — like what patients with dementia or new parents feel. If you find yourself putting the crackers in the fridge and milk in the cupboards, or forgetting your own phone number, you might be experiencing oblivion. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Vocabulary lists containing oblivion
Grade 9, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fahrenheit 451
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That is, if humanity doesn’t non-procreate its way to oblivion in the meantime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Slim Pickens yee-hawed riding “Dr. Strangelove’s” atomic bomb to oblivion; Cruise brandishes his grandpappy’s original shovel that struck crude in 1917 and whoops, “Oil is the mother’s milk of Earth!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
From near oblivion to Europe and beating the champions of England on the club's milestone day, this is the Seagulls' remarkable story...
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
As he moves deeper and finds scattered, malformed remnants of his past inside the chartreuse oblivion, Clark makes a Faustian pact with whatever entities are inside the Backrooms.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
Though it was only eleven years since the trail’s completion, by 1948 it was already subsiding into oblivion.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
