memory bank: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “memory bank” mean?
A store of information and experiences retained in the mind.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A store of information and experiences retained in the mind.
A part of a computer or other electronic system where data is stored; broadly, any organized repository of stored information.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation differences. Usage frequency and context are very similar.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK English as a psychological or metaphorical term; in US English, the computing/technical sense is slightly more prevalent.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in general discourse, higher in academic/technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “memory bank” in a Sentence
[draw on/from] + memory bank[store/keep] + [information] + in + memory bank[access/retrieve] + [something] + from + memory bankVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; occasionally used metaphorically in knowledge management ('the company's collective memory bank').
Academic
Common in psychology, cognitive science, and computing to describe storage of information.
Everyday
Used to describe a person's stored experiences ('My memory bank of childhood holidays is vast.').
Technical
In computing, refers to a hardware component or logical area for data storage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “memory bank”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “memory bank”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “memory bank”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I memory-banked that event').
- Confusing it with 'memory stick' or 'memory card' (specific storage devices).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be. In computing and electronics, it is a standard term for a storage unit. In general language, it is a metaphor.
No, it refers to the collective store or repository of many memories, not an individual one.
'Memory' is the general faculty or an individual recollection. 'Memory bank' emphasises the organised, storage-like nature of the collective memory.
Not significantly. While technical computing may use more specific terms like 'RAM module' or 'storage array', the metaphorical use in psychology and everyday language remains stable.
A store of information and experiences retained in the mind.
Memory bank is usually formal/technical in register.
Memory bank: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmeməri bæŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmeməri bæŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To draw on one's memory bank”
- “A blank in the memory bank”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your mind as a BANK building. Instead of money, you deposit and withdraw MEMORIES.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A STORAGE CONTAINER / MEMORY IS A RESOURCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'memory bank' MOST likely to be used literally?