amnesia
am-NEE-zhuh
æmˈniːʒə
A partial or total loss of memory, usually caused by shock, psychological disturbance, or physical injury.
This is a clinical term. It describes a pathological condition rather than the normal process of forgetting.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'a-' (not) and 'mnasthai' (to remember). It literally means 'not remembering.'
Word relationships
- memory loss: Memory loss is a general term; amnesia is the specific medical term.
- hypermnesia: An abnormally vivid or complete memory of the past.
Commonly confused with
- dementia: Dementia is a broad decline in cognitive function; amnesia is specifically about memory loss.
Word family
- amnesiac (noun): A person experiencing amnesia.
Collocations
- retrograde amnesia
- temporary amnesia
- suffer from amnesia
Example sentences
- "The patient suffered from retrograde amnesia, unable to recall any events prior to the accident." Medical report
- "The nation seemed to be suffering from a collective amnesia regarding the mistakes of the previous decade." Metaphorical usage
Memory hook
Amnesia = A-Memory-Is-Away. Memory is missing.
When not to use
Don't use this to describe someone who is just a bit scatterbrained.
Fun facts
- In movies, amnesia is often cured by a second blow to the head, but in real life, that would likely just cause more brain damage.
Also appears in
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