reminiscence

noun

rem·​i·​nis·​cence ˌre-mə-ˈni-sᵊn(t)s 

1

: apprehension of a Platonic idea as if it had been known in a previous existence

2

a

: recall to mind of a long-forgotten experience or fact

b

: the process or practice of thinking or telling about past experiences

3

a

: a remembered experience

b

: an account of a memorable experience

—often used in plural

4

: something so like another as to be regarded as an unconscious repetition, imitation, or survival

Synonyms

• memory
• recollection

Choose the Right Synonym for reminiscence

memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence mean the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered.

memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory

that incident was now just a distant memory

remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Examples of reminiscence in a Sentence

his reminiscences about the war were painful to hear

we wondered whether she could trust her reminiscence of events that happened so long ago

Recent Examples on the Web

The book opens with a reminiscence from DeVille’s adolescence in the late ’90s. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025

Maybe people closer to Lohan's age, with families or careers of their own, hoping for a hit of reminiscence, without any of the mess that accompanies actually coming of age. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

Lifelong friend and Slice Mob member John Emmanuel of Rocky Hill said the group is as much about reminiscences as pizza for him. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025

The poet’s reminiscences form the core of several poems that rank among the glories of twentieth-century American literature. —Dan Chiasson, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reminiscence

• concupiscence

Kids Definition

reminiscence

noun

rem·​i·​nis·​cence ˌrem-ə-ˈnis-ᵊn(t)s 

1

a

: a recalling to mind of a past experience

had a pleasant reminiscence of a favorite childhood toy

b

: the process of thinking or telling about past experiences

spent a pleasant hour in reminiscence

2

: an account of a memorable experience

—often used in plural