oblivion

[uh-bliv-ee-uhn]

noun

1. the state of being completely forgotten or unknown.

   a former movie star now in oblivion.

2. the state of forgetting or of being oblivious.

   the oblivion of sleep.

3. 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.

4. Archaic.,  official disregard or overlooking of offenses; pardon; amnesty.

oblivion

/ əˈblɪvɪən /

noun

1. the condition of being forgotten or disregarded

2. the state of being mentally withdrawn or blank

3. law an intentional overlooking, esp of political offences; amnesty; pardon

Other Word Forms

• self-oblivion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblivion¹

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; ob-

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblivion¹

C14: via Old French from Latin oblīviō forgetfulness, from oblīviscī to forget

Example Sentences

On “Tranquilizer,” he rescues a humble collection of functional sounds from data oblivion and transforms them into an unusual yet highly listenable and evocative album.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Serif had spent decades in typeface oblivion as startups, luxury brands and food companies adopted blocky letters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Taken together, says Annemarie Ward, of the charity Faces and Voices of Recovery UK, Scotland has a "penchant for oblivion".

Read more on BBC

If New York and California successfully gerrymander Republicans into oblivion before all this happens, it will be far more difficult to erase any remaining red seats.

Read more on Salon

Gaza City, its capital, is on a countdown to oblivion.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• darkness 
• extinction 
• limbo