amnesia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Medical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “amnesia” mean?
A medical condition where a person loses memories, such as facts, information, or experiences.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition where a person loses memories, such as facts, information, or experiences.
Any significant or widespread loss or gap in memory; figuratively, a collective or institutional forgetfulness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with medical/psychological conditions and literary/artistic tropes.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media/culture due to its prevalence in film and TV plotlines.
Grammar
How to Use “amnesia” in a Sentence
suffer from + amnesiabe diagnosed with + amnesiaexperience + amnesiacause + amnesiaamnesia + about/for/regardingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amnesia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The trauma can amnesiatise a patient for that specific period.
- He seemed to amnesiate the entire argument.
American English
- The trauma can amnesiate a patient for that specific period.
- He seemed to have amnesiated the entire argument.
adverb
British English
- He wandered amnesiacally through the familiar streets.
- She stared amnesically at her own family.
American English
- He wandered amnesically through the familiar streets.
- She stared amnesiacally at her own family.
adjective
British English
- The patient presented with amnesiac symptoms.
- It was an amnesic episode.
American English
- The patient presented with amnesic symptoms.
- It was an amnesiac episode.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in a metaphorical sense: 'The company seems to have amnesia about its ethical pledges.'
Academic
Common in psychology, neuroscience, and medical literature to describe clinical conditions.
Everyday
Used, but often loosely or hyperbolically: 'I must have amnesia, I forgot your birthday!'
Technical
Specific term in neurology and psychiatry with subtypes (retrograde, anterograde, dissociative, etc.).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amnesia”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amnesia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amnesia”
- Using 'amnesia' to mean simply 'forgot' (e.g., 'I amnesiad my keys'). It is a noun, not a verb. Incorrect: 'He amnesiased the event.' Correct: 'He experienced amnesia regarding the event.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Forgetfulness is common and minor. Amnesia is a significant, often clinical, memory loss typically due to injury, illness, or psychological trauma.
No, 'amnesia' is strictly a noun in standard English. While creative or informal use exists (e.g., 'he amnesiased it'), the standard verbs are 'forget', 'lose memory of', or 'experience amnesia'.
Both are adjectives meaning 'relating to amnesia'. 'Amnesiac' is also a noun for a person with amnesia. In usage, they are often interchangeable, with 'amnesic' being slightly more common in technical writing.
A metaphorical term describing a society's collective failure to remember or engage with its own history and cultural heritage.
A medical condition where a person loses memories, such as facts, information, or experiences.
Amnesia is usually formal, medical, literary in register.
Amnesia: in British English it is pronounced /æmˈniːziə/, and in American English it is pronounced /æmˈniːʒə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “convenient amnesia (pretending to forget for an advantage)”
- “cultural amnesia”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: AMNESIA sounds like 'am knees, yeah?' Imagine someone hitting their knees, falling, and forgetting who they are.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE CONTAINER (amnesia is the container being emptied/broken). KNOWING IS SEEING (amnesia is a fog/veil).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct usage of 'amnesia'?