amnesia

American  

[am-nee-zhuh] / æmˈni ʒə /

noun

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

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amnesia British  

/ æmˈniːzɪˌæk, æmˈniːsɪk, æmˈniːzjə, -ʒjə, -zɪə, -zɪk /

noun

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

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amnesia Scientific  

/ ăm-nē′zhə /

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

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amnesia Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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

• amnesiac adjective
• amnestic adjective

Etymology

Origin of amnesia

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

Example Sentences

Desperate to escape the confinement of her home life, Dilara becomes drawn to these women, and “The Renovation” delves further into the themes of emigration, amnesia and incarceration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Recency bias typically comes with a dash of amnesia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

Transient global amnesia is a sudden, temporary interruption of short-term memory.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

Another generation called that the “greater fool theory,” but rising equity prices also power an amnesia machine.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

Maybe he didn’t even remember, maybe he’d been in so much shock that he had amnesia.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu