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

Chasten’s memoir fits into the effort to build Pete Buttigieg’s political future.

From Washington Blade

A Promised Land’s first run is significantly higher compared to past presidential memoirs, which set records at the time of their publication.

From Quartz

The 768-page book is the most anticipated presidential memoir in memory, as much or more because of the quality of the writing than for any possible revelations.

From Fortune

He tells Carlos that a memoir is on the way detailing the highs and lows of his NBA career.

From Ozy

Science writer Kate Greene couldn’t have known that her memoir about her time on a make-believe Mars mission would be published as millions of people on Earth isolated themselves in their homes for months amid a pandemic.

From Science News

What made you want to write a memoir now about your “addiction” to film?

From The Daily Beast

The memoir follows Oswalt from 1995 to 1999 as he was starting out on his comedy career in Los Angeles.

From The Daily Beast

The woman in question, meanwhile, has business of her own to take care of—she is reported to be shopping a memoir.

From The Daily Beast

For years, Brooke even had trouble finding a publisher for his memoir, which was ultimately accepted by Rutgers University Press.

From The Daily Beast

Now, the goalkeeper is out with a memoir about his life until that point: The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them.

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

In the biographical memoir of La Bruyre, I have only stated what is known of him, which is very little.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, I was to find no difficulty in collecting the greatest abundance of material for a memoir.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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