memoir

noun

mem·​oir ˈmem-ˌwär How to pronounce memoir (audio)
-ˌwȯr
1
: an official note or report : memorandum
2
a
: a narrative composed from personal experience
every memoir reminds us of the faraway and long ago, of loss and change, of persons and places beyond recallAbigail McCarthy
b
: autobiography
usually used in plural
His memoirs recall his student days at Harvard.
c
: biography
his memoir of his longtime friend
3
a
: an account of something noteworthy : report
the work described and discussed in this memoir represent a first-class investigationJ. A. Steers
b
memoirs plural : the record of the proceedings of a learned society
memoirist noun

Examples of memoir in a Sentence

a retired politician who is writing his memoirs He has written a memoir of his mother. a memoir of Hollywood in the 1930s
Recent Examples on the Web In his 2022 memoir, Friends Lovers – And The Big Terrible Thing, Perry recalled the treasured memory of a day with his mother that ended with the two watching the film. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 McCourt also wrote his own memoirs: 1998's Monk Swimming, which picks up where Angela’s Ashes leaves off, and 2000's Singing My Him Song, about fatherhood. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024 And then there’s literature: one New York City public-high-school reading list includes graphic novels, Michelle Obama’s memoir, and a coming-of-age book about identity featuring characters named Aristotle and Dante. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Throughout his memoir — which will be released March 12 — the 9th Earl Spencer delves into the lasting impact of his experiences, including instances of abuse. Erin Hill, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Before the Griffiths’s memoir surfaced, there had long been an unsettled question about Robert Oppenheimer’s prewar political views. TIME, 8 Mar. 2024 In 2019, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in New York for making disparaging comments and branding her a liar after the publication of her memoir. Ben Protess, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Many other actors’ memoirs fall victim to recounting petty anecdotes or leaning on emotional platitudes, but Davis’s solidifies all the good that can come out of a performing career. Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 His memoir, Manhood: How to Be a Better Man or Just Live with One, was released in 2014. Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'memoir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French memoire, from memoire memory, from Latin memoria

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of memoir was in 1571

Dictionary Entries Near memoir

Cite this Entry

“Memoir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memoir. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

memoir

noun
mem·​oir ˈmem-ˌwär How to pronounce memoir (audio)
-ˌwȯ(ə)r
1
a
: a story of a personal experience
b
: autobiography
usually used in plural
c
2

More from Merriam-Webster on memoir

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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