amnesia

[am-nee-zhuh]

noun

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

amnesia

/ 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

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

amnesia

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

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

• amnestic adjective
• amnesiac adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amnesia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of amnesia¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek: forgetfulness, probably from amnēstia oblivion; see _amnesty

Example Sentences

After a visit with a neurologist, the actor said he learned he had a condition called transient global amnesia.

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By now the historical amnesia is almost total.

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The task now is endurance: Organizing, documenting, refusing amnesia.

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The imminent end of the longest U.S. shutdown in history has caused the biggest bout of amnesia in stock market history.

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The imminent end of the longest U.S. shutdown in history has caused the biggest bout of amnesia in stock market history.

Read more on Barron's