oblivion
Americannoun
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the state of being completely forgotten or unknown.
a former movie star now in oblivion.
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the state of forgetting or of being oblivious.
the oblivion of sleep.
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the act or process of dying out; complete annihilation or extinction.
If we don't preserve their habitat, the entire species will pass into oblivion.
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Archaic. official disregard or overlooking of offenses; pardon; amnesty.
noun
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the condition of being forgotten or disregarded
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the state of being mentally withdrawn or blank
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law an intentional overlooking, esp of political offences; amnesty; pardon
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oblivion
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oblīviōn-, stem of oblīviō “a forgetting,” equivalent to oblīv(īscī) “to forget” + -iō -ion; see ob-
Explanation
Oblivion is the state of being forgotten. Your uncle dreamed of being a rock star, but after recording one hit song, he faded into oblivion. Oblivion can also mean "total forgetfulness" — like what patients with dementia or new parents feel. If you find yourself putting the crackers in the fridge and milk in the cupboards, or forgetting your own phone number, you might be experiencing oblivion. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Vocabulary lists containing oblivion
Grade 9, List 1
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Fahrenheit 451
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100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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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.
Like a pinball hurled into the the modern tech bubble, Duncan has spent the season trying to stay in the game without getting stuck or free-falling into oblivion too quickly.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
This would be a near-certain embarrassment for a man who achieved something incredible - taking Labour from near oblivion back into power in four years.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
We also saved species that were headed for oblivion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
“Cinema is more resistant to oblivion, and certainly longer-living than the short-lived attention span that the internet offers, while your urgency reaches places our films cannot,” Wenders said.
From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026
Tired, hungry, and desperate to pee, but not falling into oblivion.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
