forgettery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / HumorousInformal, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “forgettery” mean?
The tendency or ability to forget things easily.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The tendency or ability to forget things easily.
A humorous or informal term referring to a person's memory, especially when it is unreliable; the faculty or mechanism of forgetting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and humorous in both varieties. No significant difference in usage.
Connotations
Playful, mildly self-critical. Not a serious or clinical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Occasionally appears in informal writing or spoken humour.
Grammar
How to Use “forgettery” in a Sentence
to have a (bad/terrible/convenient) forgetteryto blame something on one's forgetteryVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used only in very informal, humorous contexts among friends or family.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forgettery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forgettery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forgettery”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Spelling as 'forgetory'.
- Believing it is a standard, common word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognized humorous or informal coinage, found in some dictionaries as a nonce-word, but it is not part of standard formal vocabulary.
No, it is too informal and playful for academic or formal writing. Use 'forgetfulness' or 'poor memory' instead.
'Forgetfulness' is the standard, neutral noun. 'Forgettery' is a humorous, personifying term, treating the ability to forget as a thing or a place.
Native speakers using informal, self-deprecating humour. It is more likely to be used in speech or informal writing than encountered in reading.
The tendency or ability to forget things easily.
Forgettery is usually informal, humorous in register.
Forgettery: in British English it is pronounced /fəˈɡɛtəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /fərˈɡɛtəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My forgettery is in fine working order today.”
- “He has a forgettery like a sieve.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FOR-GET-ERY: Imagine a factory (like a pottery) that produces 'forgets' instead of pots.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A CONTAINER / STORAGE FACILITY (a 'forgettery' is a faulty or leaky storage facility).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'forgettery' most appropriately used?