amnesiac: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, medical, literary, psychological
Quick answer
What does “amnesiac” mean?
A person suffering from amnesia, a condition involving partial or total memory loss.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person suffering from amnesia, a condition involving partial or total memory loss.
Can function as an adjective meaning characteristic of or relating to amnesia; also used metaphorically to describe entities (e.g., organizations, cultures) that seem to have forgotten their past.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The adjective 'amnesic' is a common variant in American medical literature.
Connotations
Neutral clinical term in both varieties. Can carry a literary, sometimes sensationalist, tone in non-medical contexts.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, slightly more common in American medical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “amnesiac” in a Sentence
[amnesiac] + [who/that clause][adjective] + [amnesiac][verb] + [as/for] + [amnesiac]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amnesiac” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He was found in an amnesiac state, unable to recall the last 24 hours.
- The study focused on amnesiac symptoms following the treatment.
American English
- She experienced amnesiac episodes after the concussion.
- The patient's amnesiac condition was documented in the chart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might be used metaphorically: 'The company was an amnesiac, repeating past mistakes.'
Academic
Common in psychology, neuroscience, and medical literature to describe patients or experimental subjects.
Everyday
Uncommon; used in discussing health, news stories, or fictional plots.
Technical
Standard term in clinical neurology and psychiatry for classifying memory disorders.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amnesiac”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amnesiac”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amnesiac”
- Using 'amnesiac' as a verb (e.g., 'He amnesiacked the event').
- Misspelling as 'amnesic' (acceptable for adjective) or 'amnesiatic'.
- Overusing in non-medical contexts where 'forgetful' suffices.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, they are largely interchangeable as adjectives. 'Amnesiac' is more common as a noun, while 'amnesic' is slightly more technical as an adjective.
No, it implies a persistent, clinically significant memory impairment, not everyday lapses.
An anterograde amnesiac cannot form new memories after an event, while a retrograde amnesiac cannot remember events that occurred before the onset of amnesia.
In a medical context, it is a neutral descriptor. In casual conversation, it could be perceived as insensitive or reductive; 'person with amnesia' is often preferred.
A person suffering from amnesia, a condition involving partial or total memory loss.
Amnesiac is usually formal, medical, literary, psychological in register.
Amnesiac: in British English it is pronounced /æmˈniːziæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /æmˈniːʒiæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms with 'amnesiac'; the condition is referenced in idioms like 'have a memory like a sieve']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link to 'amnesia' + 'ac' (as in 'maniac') – a person driven or defined by amnesia.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE FACILITY/RECORD; an amnesiac is one whose facility is damaged or records are erased.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'amnesiac' most appropriately used?