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

More than 200 people attended the event, which included an afternoon of reminiscence and music by several Ramona bands. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Izzy’s brief accounts of other incidents, whether a confrontation with Ferd or a reminiscence about a lost son, tend to dissolve into ellipses. —Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 13 June 2025

Also posted is a reminiscence by Asawa’s granddaughter Lilli Lanier, who grew up nearby. —Robert Taylor, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025

There were also reminiscences from some of the people who were closest to Jones, including his two of his first cousins, Terry Connolly and Tracy Connley Johnson. —Derrick Bryson Taylor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 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