mnemonics

noun

mne·​mon·​ics ni-ˈmä-niks How to pronounce mnemonics (audio)
plural in form but singular in construction
: a technique of improving the memory

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Mitchell’s third fallacy centers on wishful mnemonics. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2021 People can boost their working memory by using certain mnemonics, or memory tricks. Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2011 The take-home is that the terms for each quanta are only mnemonics. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2012 Musculoskeletal mnemonics: differentiating features. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2012 Murphy said many birders use mnemonics to remember a particular sound. Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 13 July 2021 The pictographs act as mnemonics, to help the shaman remember the sequence of events and the meanings of rituals. National Geographic, 31 Aug. 2020 Among other topics, that work reflects on the use of poetic mnemonics as navigational tools. Kyle Smith, National Review, 26 Aug. 2020 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mnemonics was circa 1721

Dictionary Entries Near mnemonics

Cite this Entry

“Mnemonics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mnemonics. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

mnemonics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction
mne·​mon·​ics ni-ˈmän-iks How to pronounce mnemonics (audio)
: a technique of improving the memory
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY