oblivious
Americanadjective
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unmindful; unconscious; unaware (usually followed by of orto ).
She was oblivious of his admiration.
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forgetful; without remembrance or memory.
oblivious of my former failure.
-
Archaic. inducing forgetfulness.
adjective
Usage
It was formerly considered incorrect to use oblivious to mean unaware , but this use is now acceptable
Synonym Usage
See absent-minded.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oblivious
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin oblīviōsus “forgetful,” equivalent to oblīvī(scī) “to forget” + -ōsus -ous ( def. )
Explanation
If you don't notice or aren't aware, it means that the adjective oblivious applies to you! When we think of the adjective oblivious, it is usually in situations that involve being totally unaware of what's staring us right in the face. It can also mean being forgetful and absent-minded. The cartoon character Mr. Magoo is a perfect example of someone who is oblivious; his eyesight is so bad that he always gets himself into various scrapes and mishaps. For example, Mr. Magoo mistakes an airplane for a theater and instead of watching a movie, he takes a seat on a departing airplane!
Vocabulary lists containing oblivious
List 4
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A Raisin in the Sun
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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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.
Oblivious, Attenborough lay there in a sort of bliss.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
Oblivious to their surroundings, they see each other narrowly, “each through the wrong end of her little telescope.”
From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2021
Oblivious to his personal wellbeing, Didi kept returning to the concert hall, leading the injured and distressed to safety.
From The Guardian • Sep. 7, 2020
Oblivious, customer and clerk finally settled on a more cost-effective method of shipping, saving the guy all of 45 cents.
From Washington Post • Jun. 14, 2019
Oblivious to the chatter on the trucker’s two-way radio, Enrique falls asleep.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
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.
