amnesia

am·ne·sia   (ām-nē'zhə)    n.  Partial or total loss of memory, usually resulting from shock, psychological disturbance, brain injury, or illness. [Greek amnēsiā, forgetfulness, probably from amnēstiā, from amnēstos, not remembered : a-, not; see a-1 + mimnēskein, mnē-, to remember; see men-1 in Indo-European roots.] am·ne'si·ac' (-nē'zē-āk', -zhē-āk'), am·ne'sic (-zĭk, -sĭk) n. & adj., am·nes'tic (-něs'tĭk) adj.

amnesia [(am-nee-zhuh)]

A loss of memory, especially one brought on by some distressing or shocking experience.

Note: A common variant is selective amnesia; the term is applied to public officials who, when questioned about alleged wrongdoing, profess that they cannot remember.

amnesia 

Main Entry: am·ne·sia
Pronunciation: am-'nE-zh&
Function: noun
1 : loss of memory sometimes including the memory of personalidentity due to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression, or illness or sometimes induced by anesthesia amnesia and unable to identify himself> amnesia after the wreck>
2 : a gap in one's memory amnesia concerning her high-school years>

amnesia am·ne·sia (ām-nē'zhə)
n.
The loss or impairment of memory.