reminiscence

American  

[rem-uh-nis-uhns] / ˌrɛm əˈnɪs əns /

noun

reminiscences plural

1. the act or process of recalling past experiences, events, etc.

   Synonyms:

   recollection

2. a mental impression retained and revived.

   Synonyms:

   memory

3. Often reminiscences. a recollection narrated or told.

   reminiscences of an American soldier.

   Synonyms:

   memoir, tale, anecdote

4. something that recalls or suggests something else.

   Synonyms:

   reminder

5. (in Platonic philosophy) anamnesis.

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reminiscence British  

/ ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsəns /

noun

1. the act of recalling or narrating past experiences

2. (often plural) some past experience, event, etc, that is recalled or narrated; anecdote

3. an event, phenomenon, or experience that reminds one of something else

4. (in the philosophy of Plato) the doctrine that perception and recognition of particulars is possible because the mind has seen the universal forms of all things in a previous disembodied existence

5. psychol the ability to perform a task better when tested some time after the task has been learnt than when tested immediately after learning it

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• reminiscences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reminiscence

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French, from Late Latin reminiscentia, from reminiscent-, stem of reminiscēns “remembering” ( see reminiscent) + -ia -y ³ ( def. )

Explanation

A reminiscence is a memory, or the act of recovering it. A visit to your old elementary school may flood your brain with reminiscences––things you hadn't thought of in years coming suddenly back. Many people find that when they travel or have quiet time to think, their brain becomes occupied with reminiscence. You can see how close the word reminiscence is in meaning to the word remember––you might think of the word reminiscence as a remembering.

Example Sentences

One of her most moving chapters describes how people with Alzheimer’s gain temporary access to memories of who they are when they hear songs from their own reminiscence bumps.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

"At Walpole we spend our lives preserving the past for the education and enjoyment for the next generations and reminiscence for those of us who lived it," she added.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

“The combined drop in the dollar, equities and Treasuries was a reminiscence of the ‘sell America’ days of last spring,” said Pesole at ING.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

Seeing two icons, holding a united front to protect the sanctity of the big-budget silver screen experience, might provide a jolt of wistful reminiscence if it didn’t come off so smug.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2025

The Platonists’ doctrines of recurrence and reminiscence were not the real problem, however; both were endorsed by Proclus, who still wrote, as the Greeks did, in terms of discovery.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• anecdote
• recollection
• remembrance