memoir

[ mem-wahr, -wawr ]

noun

1. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.
2. Usually memoirs.
   1. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography.
   2. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
3. a biography or biographical sketch.

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
3. obsolete.
   a memorandum

Derived Forms

• ˈmemoirist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of memoir¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of memoir¹

C16: from French, from Latin memoria memory

Example Sentences

Asides from his memoir, he has written for media outlets like The New York Times, leading African-American magazine Ebony and Ghana's state-owned Daily Graphic.

From BBC

Like Barbra Streisand, who recently penned a 970-page memoir, Cher is one of the handful of artists whose extraordinary life merits the extra ink.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was quality advice,” she says during the conversation before U.S. publication of her controversial memoir.

From Los Angeles Times

He began by writing his memoirs, Mr Nice, which became a bestseller, was translated into several languages and made into a film.

From BBC

She’s writing a hybrid memoir with her husband about their cancer journey.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account
• anecdote
• autobiography
• biography
• chronicle
• diary
• essay
• journal
• life
• life story
• memory
• narrative
• note
• recollection
• reminiscence
• thesis
• treatise