nostalgia

[ no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh- ]

noun

1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time:

   a nostalgia for his college days.

2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.

nostalgia

/ -dʒɪə; nɒˈstældʒə /

noun

1. a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events, etc
2. the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc
3. longing for home or family; homesickness

Other Words From

• nos·talgic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from New Latin, from Greek nóst(os) “a return home” + -algia -algia

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

C18: New Latin (translation of German Heimweh homesickness), from Greek nostos a return home + -algia

Example Sentences

This isn’t a “good old days” nostalgia argument.

From Los Angeles Times

“His has been a campaign of grievance and loss and nostalgia,” argues Dr Jones, “and that includes nostalgia from a faith perspective.”

From BBC

We read far too much into body language and demeanour, can be swayed by a slap at a weigh-in or live in a fantasy land powered by nostalgia.

From BBC

"The biggest thing mainstream analysis refuses to comprehend is the continued power of a politics of racial grievance and religious nostalgia among white Christian Americans."

From Salon

Large groups - fuelled by Tyson nostalgia - gathered outside the Toyota Music Factory in Irving before fight-week festivities, wanting to get as close to him as they could as he got out of his car.

From BBC

Related Words

• longing
• remorse
• sentimentality
• wistfulness
• yearning