Memoir
noun /ˈmɛm.wɑː/ — A historical account from personal experience; a written memory.
Definition
A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. More specifically: a book written by a public figure about their own life. A memoir is not an autobiography — it does not claim to capture everything, only what matters to the memoirist.
Beyond the definition
The memoir is selective memory turned into literature. It says: I am not giving you my whole life. I am giving you the part that shaped everything else. The part I have made sense of. The part that might illuminate something in yours.
Origin & history
French: 'mémoire' (memory). From Latin 'memoria'. The word is the same as 'memory' — memoir is, literally, memory offered.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her memoir was not about her famous parents. It was about the kitchen — and what happened there.
He wrote a memoir of his years in publishing, calling it what it really was: a series of spectacular failures.
A memoir is the story you tell about yourself when you finally feel you understand it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Memoir” when the meaning fits your context: A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. More specifically: a book written by a public figure about their own life. A memoir is not an autobiography — it does not claim to capture everything, only what matters to the memoirist.
Synonyms
autobiography, reminiscence, personal history, recollections
Antonyms
fiction, biography, journalism
Related words
Memoir vs autobiography
A memoir focuses on a specific period, theme, or slice of the author's life. An autobiography is a comprehensive, chronological account of the author's entire life.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Looking at Childhood Keepsakes
An adult looks wistfully at childhood keepsakes in a tin, including a worn toy and faded photograph.
The specific, subjective nature of the keepsakes in the tin characterizes a memoir. Unlike an official history, these items represent a personal account, including only what matters to the person remembering.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Memoir" mean?
Memoir is noun meaning: A historical account from personal experience; a written memory.. A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. More specifically: a book written by a public figure about their own life. A memoir is not an autobiography — it does not claim to capture everything, only what matters to the memoirist.
Where does the word "Memoir" come from?
French: 'mémoire' (memory). From Latin 'memoria'. The word is the same as 'memory' — memoir is, literally, memory offered.