nostalgic
Americanadjective
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- nostalgically adverb
Etymology
Origin of nostalgic
Explanation
You feel nostalgic when you miss your childhood, people you know but haven't seen in a while or the things that bring you comfort, like the nostalgic memories you feel when you listen to the songs you loved when you were little. The adjective nostalgic is often used to describe someone who is homesick and wants to be back at home with family. It always involves a wistful memory of times that now seem better or simpler. A nostalgic feeling can involve home and family, but it can also involve a longing for long-gone moments. Even beloved things, such as old TV shows or athletes from a different era may provoke the feeling of nostalgia.
Vocabulary lists containing nostalgic
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Lightning Thief
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s familiar, nostalgic and just refined enough to justify the price point.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
“It’ll be funny, effective, kitschy, nostalgic and change the way we use self-help for the better.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
The encore was pure joy, with the English-language bops Dynamite and Butter cosying up to the nostalgic pop of 2019's Mikrokosmos.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
For Thompson, "some of this nostalgic stuff goes on a cycle, usually somewhere around 20 years."
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
While languishing in Europe, he wrote a nostalgic pamphlet extolling the land he had come to love.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
