Dictionary.com

amnesia

[ am-nee-zhuh ]
/ æmˈni ʒə /
See synonyms for: amnesia / amnestic on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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Origin of amnesia

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

OTHER WORDS FROM amnesia

am·nes·tic [am-nes-tik], /æmˈnɛs tɪk/, adjective

Words nearby amnesia

Ammons, Ammon's horn, ammophilous, ammunition, Amne Machin Shan, amnesia, amnesiac, amnesic, amnestic, amnestic aphasia, amnestic syndrome
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to amnesia

stupor, blackout, fugue

Example sentences from the Web for amnesia

British Dictionary definitions for amnesia

amnesia
/ (æmˈniːzjə, -ʒjə, -zɪə) /

noun

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

Derived forms of amnesia

amnesiac (æmˈniːzɪˌæk) or amnesic (æmˈniːsɪk, -zɪk), adjective, noun

Word Origin for amnesia

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

Medical definitions for amnesia

amnesia
[ ăm-nē′zhə ]

n.

The loss or impairment of memory.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for amnesia

amnesia
[ ăm-nē′zhə ]

Partial or total loss of memory, usually caused by brain injury or shock.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for amnesia

amnesia
[ (am-nee-zhuh) ]

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

notes for amnesia

A common variant is selective amnesia; the term is applied to public officials who, when questioned about alleged wrongdoing, profess that they cannot remember.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.