recollection

[rek-uh-lek-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or power of recollecting, or recalling to mind; remembrance.

   Synonyms: memory, recall

2. something that is recollected: recollected.

   recollections of one's childhood.

   Synonyms: memoir, memory

Other Word Forms

• misrecollection noun
• nonrecollection noun
• self-recollection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recollection¹

1635–45; < French récollection or Medieval Latin recollēctiōn- (stem of recollēctiō ), equivalent to recollēct ( us ) ( recollect ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Standing beneath a Therrien table does, indeed, produce vague — sometimes unsettling — recollections of being a small human in a not-yet-understood world of big things.

From Los Angeles Times

These are Harry's memories of the situation and as we know, "recollections may vary".

From BBC

On Monday, Smith’s brother, Andrew Smith, wrote on Facebook that his brother was conscious and did have “some recollection of event from the day of the attack.”

From Los Angeles Times

“My earliest recollections are just of war, of violence, of blood and of killings,” Halimi said.

From Salon

The presenter said he had "no recollection" of it and that any racist language was "wholly unacceptable".

From BBC

Related Words

• memoir 
• remembrance 
• reminiscence