Amnesia
/æmˈniːʒə/
nounIntermediate📊CommonMedical Condition
1 meaning2 questions
Definitions
1
A partial or total loss of memory, typically due to brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma.
/æmˈniːʒə/
nounneutralIntermediate
Medical Condition
Loss of memory
She suffered from amnesia after the accident.
💡 Simply: Inability to remember things.
More Examples
2
Retrograde amnesia prevented her from remembering her childhood.
How It's Used
Medical
"The car accident resulted in severe amnesia."
Psychology
"The psychologist treated the patient for amnesia following trauma."
From Late Latin *amnesia, from Greek ἀμνησία (amnēsia), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + μνήμη (mnēmē, “memory”).
The term has been used in medical literature since ancient Greece, although the understanding of the condition has evolved significantly over time.
Memory tip
Think 'a' (not) + 'mnesia' (memory) = no memory
Word Origin
LanguageGreek
Original meaning
"a- (not) + mnesia (memory)"
severe amnesiaretrograde amnesiaanterograde amnesiatraumatic amnesia
Common misspellings
amneisaamneziaamnesiaa
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written