nostalgia

[no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh-]

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.

nostalgia

/ -dʒɪə, nɒˈstældʒə /

noun

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

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

3. longing for home or family; homesickness

Other Word Forms

• nostalgic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

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

Example Sentences

Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s some health scares and big moves, but nostalgia has been hitting harder.

From Salon

Pynchon still hasn’t lost his nostalgia for Los Angeles, a place where he lived and wrote for a while in the ’60s and ’70s.

From Los Angeles Times

Chef Young incorporated nostalgia into every course, including the drink pairings, which are also available in non-alcoholic options.

From Salon

In the end, rice casserole is less about nostalgia than about inheritance.

From Salon

Go classic with a sharp cheddar or a creamy American for that diner-bar nostalgia.

From Salon

Related Words

• longing 
• remorse 
• sentimentality 
• wistfulness 
• yearning