memoir
UK/'memwɑ:/US
GREC1
Definitions
n.
A written account of one's own life or experiences
回忆录，自传
n.
(memoirs) a person's collected written recollections, usually published
（memoirs）回忆录（合集）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmemoir travelled through French (mémoire, 'memory') from Latin memoria. It is a written-down memory of one's own life — a personal record of things remembered. Unlike a full autobiography, a memoir usually focuses on particular periods or themes rather than a whole life.
Root memor still carries 12 more wordsUsage Guide
Pronunciation trap: memoir sounds like 'MEM-wahr' (the French ending), not 'mem-oir.' Note memoir vs autobiography: a memoir covers selected periods or themes; an autobiography aims to tell a whole life from start to finish.
Example Sentences
- 1.
She wrote a memoir about growing up during the war.
- 2.
His memoir became an instant bestseller.