oblivious

[ uh-bliv-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. unmindful; unconscious; unaware (usually followed by of or to ):

   She was oblivious of his admiration.

2. forgetful; without remembrance or memory:

   oblivious of my former failure.

3. Archaic. inducing forgetfulness.

oblivious

/ əˈblɪvɪəs /

adjective

1. foll byto or of unaware or forgetful

Usage

It was formerly considered incorrect to use oblivious to mean unaware , but this use is now acceptable

Derived Forms

• obˈliviously, adverb
• obˈliviousness, noun

Other Words From

• ob·liv·i·ous·ly adverb
• ob·liv·i·ous·ness noun
• self-ob·liv·i·ous adjective
• sem·i·ob·liv·i·ous adjective
• sem·i·ob·liv·i·ous·ly adverb
• un·ob·liv·i·ous adjective
• un·ob·liv·i·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblivious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin oblīviōsus “forgetful,” equivalent to oblīvī(scī) “to forget” + -ōsus -ous ( def )

Synonym Study

See absent-minded.

Example Sentences

Oblivious to its original purpose, our modern version is an expression of the American idea that you can be whoever you want to be as well as a vehicle for our tensions and anxieties, turning death into a joke with temporary disguises and decorative one-upmanship.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m not oblivious to the irony that my career is basically tracking the death of democracy,” joked Whitford, 65, via a Zoom interview from his native Wisconsin, where he along with many of his former colleagues from “The West Wing” cast were campaigning for the Harris-Walz campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m not oblivious to the irony that my career is basically tracking the death of democracy.

From Los Angeles Times

Sylvester is panicked, Porky oblivious.

From Los Angeles Times

"She just thought it was two sisters playing dress up and taking silly pictures, so she's actually completely oblivious to it to this day."

From BBC

Related Words

• blind
• deaf
• inattentive
• unconcerned
• unfamiliar
• uninformed