long-term memory

American  

noun

1. information stored in the brain and retrievable over a long period of time, often over the entire life span of the individual (contrasted with short-term memory).

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long-term memory British  

noun

1. psychol that section of the memory storage system in which experiences are stored on a semipermanent basis Compare short-term memory

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Etymology

Origin of long-term memory

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

"If treatment can start before significant damage has been done, it may be possible to better preserve long-term memory."

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

Department of Veterans Affairs to treat PTSD, helped her pack the imagery into long-term memory.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

The company has long-term memory contracts, which can help insulate it from volatile pricing dynamics and reflect a push to lock prices in when cycles are favorable.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025

Pathway’s architecture organizes short-term memory very differently than the transformer, with an update mechanism that resembles what is found in the brain, and, crucially, has the same storage pattern as long-term memory, according to Stamirowska.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

“His long-term memory is still impressive. It’s the short-term memory that is failing him. And he gets crabby sometimes. But all in all, he’s still doing pretty good.”

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen