noun
Uncommon
amnesia
am-NEE-zhuh
Amnesia (noun) means a partial or total loss of memory, often caused by injury, illness, or trauma. Example: “After the accident, he suffered amnesia and couldn't recall the crash.”
noun
1
A partial or total loss of memory, often caused by injury, illness, or trauma.
"After the accident, he suffered amnesia and couldn't recall the crash."
"The character in the film wakes up with amnesia and no idea who she is."
How to use amnesia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot being able to remember things, usually because of a medical condition or injury.
Common pairings
suffer from amnesia
temporary amnesia
amnesia patient
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like amnesia.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- amnesias, amnesiæ
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the accident, he suffered _____ and couldn't recall the crash.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek amnesia, "forgetfulness", built from the negative prefix a- ("not") plus a root related to mimneskein, "to remember".
Synonyms
View more →
blackout
memory loss
Related words
Rhymes for amnesia
See all rhymes for amnesia →Frequently asked questions
What does “amnesia” mean?
The word “amnesia” means a partial or total loss of memory, often caused by injury, illness, or trauma. In plain terms, not being able to remember things, usually because of a medical condition or injury.
How do you pronounce “amnesia”?
“Amnesia” is pronounced am-NEE-zhuh (/ˌæmˈniʒə/ in IPA).
How do you use “amnesia” in a sentence?
Here is “amnesia” used in a sentence: “After the accident, he suffered amnesia and couldn't recall the crash.”
What part of speech is “amnesia”?
“Amnesia” is a noun.
Where does the word “amnesia” come from?
The word “amnesia” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek amnesia, "forgetfulness", built from the negative prefix a- ("not") plus a root related to mimneskein, "to remember".
Is “amnesia” a common word?
“Amnesia” is an uncommon word in modern English.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include amnesia:
