memoir
gb/mˈɛmwˌɑɹ/ us/mˈɛmwˌɑɹ/
B2
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
book about the writer's own life
A book where a person writes about their own life and important experiences.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s memoir of [a period/experience]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "memoir" with "memory". "Memory" is the ability to remember or a single thing you remember, while a "memoir" is a book or long piece of writing about a person's life. Another confusion is between "memoir" and "autobiography"; an autobiography usually tries to cover a whole life in order, while a memoir often focuses on certain experiences or periods.
Synonyms
autobiography (Often suggests a more complete and formal life story, usually covering the whole life in order, while a memoir may focus on certain parts or themes.)
|
life story (More informal and can be spoken or written; does not necessarily imply a published book.)
Antonyms
fiction (A memoir is presented as a true account of the writer's life, while fiction is invented or imagined.)
Collocations
write a memoir
|publish a memoir
|best-selling memoir
|celebrity memoir
|political memoir
|memoir writing
Themes
literature
|media
|personal_life
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her latest memoir explores her childhood in a small coastal town.
- After retiring, he finally had time to write a memoir about his years in the navy.
- The actress's memoir became a bestseller for its honest description of life in Hollywood.
- In his memoir, he reflects on the mistakes that shaped his career.
- The book is more of a memoir than a straightforward history, focusing on his personal memories of the war.
Learner examples
- She wrote a memoir about her life in New York.
- I am reading a memoir by a famous doctor.
- His memoir tells the story of his long trip across Africa.
- The writer started a memoir after his mother died.
- Many people enjoy reading memoirs about difficult childhoods.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
personal written account of public events
A formal book or document where a person who was involved in important events writes about what happened.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s memoirs of [an event/period]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this sense is often used in the plural form "memoirs" when referring to a statesperson's or public figure's written account of events. They may also confuse this sense with a neutral history book; memoirs are based on one person's experience and opinion, not on fully objective research.
Synonyms
reminiscences (More literary and often more nostalgic or personal in tone, without the strong historical or political focus that memoirs can have.)
|
testimony (Stresses giving an account as evidence, for example in court or in investigations, rather than as a literary or historical work.)
Antonyms
official report (An official report is usually impersonal and written in an institutional voice, while memoirs are personal accounts based on an individual's experience.)
Collocations
war memoirs
|presidential memoirs
|political memoirs
|publish his memoirs
|diplomatic memoirs
|memoirs of office
Themes
history
|politics
|literature
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- In his memoirs of the conflict, the general criticizes several key decisions made by the government.
- Her diplomatic memoirs offer a rare look inside high-level negotiations.
- Many historians rely on ministers' memoirs to understand how policy was made behind closed doors.
- The former president signed a deal to publish his memoirs shortly after leaving office.
- The memoirs of survivors provide a deeply personal view of the revolution.
Learner examples
- He is working on his memoirs of the war.
- The prime minister's memoirs were very popular.
- Historians read the general's memoirs to learn more about the battle.
- Her memoirs describe life in the government during that time.
- These memoirs give a personal view of the political changes.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
specialist academic monograph
A long, detailed paper or small book on one topic, often written for experts and published by an academic group.
Usage pattern:
a memoir on [a specialized subject]
Synonyms
monograph (Modern and more common term in academic English; closely matches this meaning but is not tied to the word "memoir" or to specific series titles.)
Antonyms
textbook (A textbook gives broad, general teaching material, while a memoir in this sense is a narrow, detailed study for specialists.)
Collocations
scientific memoir
|memoirs of the society
|memoir on algebraic topology
|memoirs of the academy
Themes
academia
|science
|education
Examples
- The society published his memoir on the geology of the region as part of their annual series.
- Several classic memoirs of the academy are still cited in modern mathematics.
- Her early career was marked by a landmark memoir on insect behavior.
Learner examples
- The scientist wrote a long memoir on this topic.
- This old memoir is important in the history of physics.
- The math society prints short memoirs by its members.
Grammar
Dictionary form
memoir
IPA
GB/mˈɛmwˌɑɹ/
US/mˈɛmwˌɑɹ/
Syllables & stress
mem - oir (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mem)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: memoir
- Plural: memoirs
Word family
Forms
memoirs
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unmemorable
adjective
Advanced or less common
commemoration
noun
commemorative
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.