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definitions

forgetful

[ fer-get-fuhl ]
/ fərˈgɛt fəl /
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adjective

apt to forget; that forgets: a forgetful person.
heedless or neglectful (often followed by of): to be forgetful of others.
bringing on oblivion: forgetful slumber.

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RELATED WORDS

inattention, nirvana, abstraction, negligence, laxness, blank, repression, oblivion, obliviousness, amnesia, suppression, carelessness, limbo, blackout, Lethe, dreaminess, paramnesia, fugue, hypomnesia

Nearby words

  1. forgery,
  2. forget,
  3. forget it,
  4. forget oneself,
  5. forget-me-not,
  6. forgetive,
  7. forgettable,
  8. forgettery,
  9. forging,
  10. forgivable

Origin of forgetful

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at forget, -ful
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forgetfulness

British Dictionary definitions for forgetfulness

forgetful

/ (fəˈɡɛtfʊl) /

adjective

tending to forget
(often postpositive foll by of) inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
poetic causing loss of memory
Derived Formsforgetfully, adverbforgetfulness, noun
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

Word Origin and History for forgetfulness

forgetful

adj.

late 14c., from forget + -ful. Related: Forgetfully; forgetfulness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper