recollection

noun

rec·​ol·​lec·​tion ˌre-kə-ˈlek-shən How to pronounce recollection (audio)
1
a
: tranquility of mind
b
: religious contemplation
2
a
: the action or power of recalling to mind
b
: something recalled to the mind
Choose the Right Synonym for recollection

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 recollection in a Sentence

Her recollection of the accident is very different from mine. She has only a vague recollection of her seventh birthday party. His novel is largely based on his own recollections of his childhood in the inner city.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Information comes to light that alters your recollection of events as Mercury and Pluto clash. Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 Through their recollections, a more personal portrait emerges of a woman who was generous, witty, and fiercely loyal to those around her. Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025 Graham prefaces their interview with DiMassa with a recollection of the pair’s first meeting, in the parking lot of the Bridgeport train station. Jo Livingstone, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 In her recollection now, Blunt doesn’t remember seeing a single light or a camera, as Safdie and the crew so carefully hid them. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recollection

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of recollection was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Recollection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recollection. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

recollection

noun
rec·​ol·​lec·​tion ˌrek-ə-ˈlek-shən How to pronounce recollection (audio)
1
: the action or power of recalling to mind
2
: something recalled to the mind

More from Merriam-Webster on recollection

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