memoir

[ mem-wahr, -wawr ]
See synonyms for memoir on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.

  2. Usually memoirs.

    • an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography.

    • the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.

  1. a biography or biographical sketch.

Origin of memoir

1
First recorded in 1560–70; from French mémoire, from Latin memoria; see memory

Other words for memoir

2a journal, recollections, reminiscences
See synonyms for memoir on Thesaurus.com

Words Nearby memoir

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use memoir in a sentence

  • The problem to be solved was a difficult one, as he pointed out in a memoir written for Clanclaux.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
  • In the biographical memoir of La Bruyre, I have only stated what is known of him, which is very little.

  • At this time the family consisted of four sons and two daughters, besides the subject of this memoir.

    Robert Moffat | David J. Deane
  • Indeed, I was to find no difficulty in collecting the greatest abundance of material for a memoir.

  • I am also aware that I may hereby cast a suspicion of the spirit of a wild projector, over the subject of this memoir.

British Dictionary definitions for memoir

memoir

/ (ˈmɛmwɑː) /


noun
  1. a biography or historical account, esp one based on personal knowledge

  2. an essay or monograph, as on a specialized topic

  1. obsolete a memorandum

Origin of memoir

1
C16: from French, from Latin memoria memory

Derived forms of memoir

  • memoirist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012