anamnesis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “anamnesis” mean?
The act of remembering or recalling past events.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of remembering or recalling past events; recollection.
In medicine: a patient's account of their medical history. In philosophy/theology: recollection of knowledge from a previous existence (Platonic concept) or remembrance of Christ's passion (Christian liturgy).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally formal and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in medical contexts than others.
Grammar
How to Use “anamnesis” in a Sentence
the anamnesis of [event/person]to take/gather an anamnesis from [patient]anamnesis suggests/shows/revealsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anamnesis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form. The related verb is 'remember' or 'recall'.]
American English
- [No standard verb form. The related verb is 'remember' or 'recall'.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form.]
American English
- [No standard adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- The anamnestic details were crucial for the diagnosis.
- She conducted an anamnestic interview.
American English
- The anamnestic data was entered into the electronic health record.
- An anamnestic approach is fundamental to clinical practice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in philosophy (Platonic theory of knowledge), theology (Eucharistic liturgy), and medical education.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be misunderstood by most speakers.
Technical
Standard term in clinical medicine for the process of taking a patient's history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anamnesis”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anamnesis”
- Using it as a synonym for 'memory' in everyday contexts.
- Pronouncing it with stress on the first syllable (AN-am-nee-sis). Correct stress is on 'ne'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in medical, philosophical, or theological contexts. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
In medicine, they are synonyms. 'Anamnesis' is the formal, technical term for the process of taking a patient's history and the information gathered. 'Medical history' is the more common term.
No, there is no standard verb form 'to anamnesise'. The related concept is expressed with verbs like 'to recall', 'to remember', or 'to take a history' (in medicine).
It comes from Greek 'anamnēsis', meaning 'remembrance' or 'recollection', from 'ana-' (back, again) and 'mimneskesthai' (to remember).
The act of remembering or recalling past events.
Anamnesis is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Anamnesis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌænæmˈniːsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌænæmˈnisɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANna's AMNESia is cured, so she can now have perfect ANAMNESIS (recall) of her past.'
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE CONTAINER (dredging up memories from the past).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'anamnesis' most commonly used today?