recollection
C1Formal to neutral. More formal than 'memory' in many contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The action or faculty of remembering something; an instance of this; something remembered.
The process of retrieving stored memories. Can also mean a period of time within living memory ('within living recollection').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a deliberate, conscious effort to remember or the process of piecing together past events. It can refer to both the abstract faculty and the specific memory content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition or usage. Both varieties use the word similarly.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in both varieties. Slightly more common in American philosophical/psychological writing.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency, though 'memory' is far more common in everyday speech in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a + ADJ + recollection of NPto the best of my recollectionbeyond (all) recollectionfrom (one's) recollectionNP is within living recollectionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to the best of my recollection”
- “within living recollection”
- “beyond all recollection”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in legal contexts regarding witness testimony ('According to the witness's recollection...').
Academic
Common in psychology, philosophy, history, and literary studies to discuss memory processes or historical accounts.
Everyday
Used, but 'memory' is more common. Often appears in phrases like 'I have no recollection of that.'
Technical
Used in psychology/cognitive science as a specific term for the retrieval of memories.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. The related verb is 'recollect'.
American English
- N/A. The related verb is 'recollect'.
adverb
British English
- N/A. No adverb form.
American English
- N/A. No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- N/A. No common adjective form. 'Recollective' is extremely rare.
American English
- N/A. No common adjective form. 'Recollective' is extremely rare.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have no recollection of meeting him.
- Her recollection of the event was clear.
- To the best of my recollection, the meeting was on a Tuesday.
- He had only a vague recollection of his early childhood.
- My recollection of the conversation differs from the official minutes.
- The war is still within living recollection for the oldest members of the community.
- The historian relied on the personal recollections of diplomats to reconstruct the negotiations.
- The phenomenological study focused on the subjective quality of traumatic recollection.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-COLLECT-ION. You COLLECT your thoughts again (RE-) about the past, forming a 'collection' of memories.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE SPACE (searching one's recollections), MEMORY IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (a vague recollection, a clear recollection).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'коллекцией' (collection).
- Переводится как 'воспоминание', но часто звучит формальнее, чем русское 'воспоминание'.
- 'To the best of my recollection' ≈ 'Насколько я помню', а не дословно 'лучшее'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'recollection' as a countable noun for a single memory is correct (a recollection).
- Misspelling as 'recolection'.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'memory' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common idiom using 'recollection'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Memory' is the broader, more common term for the faculty and content of remembering. 'Recollection' often implies a more active, conscious process of retrieving or piecing together memories and is slightly more formal.
No. The verb form is 'recollect' (e.g., 'I don't recollect saying that'). 'Recollection' is only a noun.
It is both. As a faculty, it can be uncountable ('powers of recollection'). As a specific instance or memory, it is countable ('fond recollections', 'a vague recollection').
It refers to a time period that is still remembered by people who are alive now, i.e., within living memory.
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