What does memoir mean?
A memoir is a written account of a person's life or experiences, especially one that concentrates on selected events, relationships, periods, or themes. The genre is personal and often reflective, allowing the writer to explore memory, identity, change, and personal experience. A memoir differs from a full autobiography mainly in scope: it need not present the writer's life in a complete chronological sequence, and it may focus intensively on one period or subject. In broader historical usage, memoirs can also describe experiences associated with a particular era, institution, or public life, though the modern sense most often concerns personal experiences. The word is related to “memory” and comes from French mémoire, which originally referred to a written record or account intended to preserve what was remembered. Memoirs are especially associated with public figures, artists, and other writers who use them to give a personal account of significant experiences.
nounA written account of a person's life or experiences, often focused on a particular period or theme and presented in a personal and reflective style. Unlike an autobiography, a memoir may emphasize selected experiences rather than giving a complete chronological account of the writer's life.
- A written account of the author's own life or experiences, often emphasizing particular periods, people, or themes.
- A historical or biographical account of experiences connected with a particular institution, period, or subject.
"She wrote a candid memoir about growing up in a small coastal town."
"The politician published a memoir reflecting on his years in public service."
"Her memoir offers a vivid account of life in a rapidly changing city."
The plural is used for individual books or accounts, as in “She has written several memoirs,” and can also refer to published collections of such accounts.
"The archive contains memoirs from politicians, artists, and soldiers."
The word memoir comes through French from Latin memoria, meaning “memory,” and it originally referred to a written record of memorable events.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does memoir come from?
The word entered English through French memoir, meaning a written account or narrative of memorable events. French memoir derives from Latin memoria, meaning “memory,” which in turn comes from the root memor, associated with remembering and mindful recollection. Related English words such as memory, memorial, memorable, and memorize reflect this shared Latin foundation. The modern personal sense of a memoir as a selective account of the writer's life developed alongside the older sense of a historical or biographical record.
Related word forms
How memoir is actually used
In contemporary usage, “memoir” usually denotes a personal account of selected experiences and is often associated with candid or reflective writing. It can also refer to a detailed historical account, although this use is less common in everyday English.
Easily confused with memoir
A memoir presents selected or thematically focused life experiences, while an autobiography is typically a more complete account of the author's own life.