short-term memory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. 'Short-term memory' often refers to the passive, temporary storage of information. 'Working memory' is a more modern, active model that includes manipulating and processing that information, not just storing it. In many contexts, they are used interchangeably, but technical distinctions exist.

Yes, through techniques like chunking (grouping information), rehearsal (repetition), mnemonic devices, and reducing distractions. However, its core capacity is biologically limited. Training often improves strategies to use it more efficiently rather than expanding its raw 'size'.

Remembering a phone number you've just been told long enough to dial it. You hold the digits in your mind temporarily (using your short-term memory) to complete the action, after which you likely forget them unless you consciously try to save them.

Always hyphenate when it functions as a compound modifier before a noun ('short-term memory loss', 'a short-term memory task'). When used nominally after a verb, hyphens are sometimes omitted ('His memory is short term'), but the hyphenated form is widely accepted in all syntactic positions for this established term.

The component of memory that temporarily holds and manipulates a limited amount of information (typically 5-9 items) for a brief period, usually seconds to minutes, without rehearsal.

Short-term memory is usually formal to neutral in academic/technical contexts; neutral to informal in metaphorical use. in register.

Short-term memory: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːt tɜːm ˈmem(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːrt tɜːrm ˈmeməri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.