amnesia

[ am-nee-zhuh ]

/ æmˈni ʒə /

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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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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

ammonolyze, Ammons, ammophilous, ammunition, Amne Machin Shan, amnesia, amnesiac, amnesty, Amnesty International, amnio, amniocentesis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use amnesia in a sentence

Mice injected with a cocktail of protein inhibitors develop amnesia, likely forgetting information because their synapses wither away.
How technology can let us see and manipulate memories|Joshua Sariñana|August 25, 2021|MIT Technology Review
We cannot know whether the movies will survive the pandemic, streaming and cultural amnesia.
‘A Light in the Dark’ is a love letter to the directors, personal flaws and all|Troy Jollimore|April 12, 2021|Washington Post
Though suffering from amnesia, he turns out to be unflappably polite, irresistibly charming and quite frisky with the nurses.
Cheer yourself up with light comedies from another era|Michael Dirda|March 31, 2021|Washington Post
Compounding the puzzle, as Bauer writes, is the fact that “within the period eventually obscured by childhood amnesia, children had remarkably rich autobiographies.”
What happens to our lost childhood memories? Motherhood sent me looking for answers.|Missy Ryan|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

The precise age when the veil of infantile amnesia descends is a subject of ongoing debate, in part because only limited studies have been done involving children.
What happens to our lost childhood memories? Motherhood sent me looking for answers.|Missy Ryan|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Liberals are outraged over the Steven Scalise scandal—but the left has selective amnesia.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright Was Worse Than Scalise|Ron Christie|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What are the real life consequences of our collective amnesia?
The Bill Cosby Controversy Stages of Grief|Amy Zimmerman|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I invented everything—amnesia, pain, hemorrhoids,” he told La Stampa.
Proud to Be a Coal Miner Fraudster|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But there is more to this behaviour than intentional amnesia.
Beirut Letter: In Lebanon, Fighting ISIS With Culture and Satire|Kim Ghattas|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first is what Scottish historian Tom Devine calls “imperial amnesia.”
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The one form of memory disturbance is called "Word Amnesia;" the other is called "Apraxia."
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Asked her friend abruptly, "Have you ever seen a case of amnesia?"
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock
For instance, I could have amnesia so that I could see you, but there wouldn't be any me.
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock
The temporary amnesia slipped aside and the veil began to rise.
The Sex Life of the Gods|Michael Knerr
When you cracked up, a blow on the head, or something, must have created a temporary amnesia and you thought you were Danson.
The Sex Life of the Gods|Michael Knerr

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

Scientific definitions for amnesia

amnesia

[ ăm-nē′zhə ]

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

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.

amnesia

Origin of amnesia

OTHER WORDS FROM amnesia

Words nearby amnesia

Words related to amnesia

How to use amnesia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amnesia

Derived forms of amnesia

Word Origin for amnesia

Scientific definitions for amnesia

Cultural definitions for amnesia

notes for amnesia