oblivion

[ uh-bliv-ee-uhn ]
See synonyms for oblivion on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. 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.

  2. Archaic. official disregard or overlooking of offenses; pardon; amnesty.

Origin of oblivion

1
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-

Other words from oblivion

  • self-ob·liv·i·on, noun

Words Nearby oblivion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use oblivion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oblivion

oblivion

/ (əˈblɪvɪən) /


noun
  1. the condition of being forgotten or disregarded

  2. the state of being mentally withdrawn or blank

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

Origin of oblivion

1
C14: via Old French from Latin oblīviō forgetfulness, from oblīviscī to forget

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