memoir

[ mem-wahr, -wawr ]
/ ˈmɛm wɑr, -wɔr /

noun

a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.
Usually memoirs.
  1. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography.
  2. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
a biography or biographical sketch.

Origin of memoir

1560–70; < French mémoire < Latin memoria; see memory

SYNONYMS FOR memoir

2a journal, recollections, reminiscences.

Example sentences from the Web for memoirs

British Dictionary definitions for memoirs (1 of 2)

memoirs
/ (ˈmɛmwɑːz) /

pl n

a collection of reminiscences about a period, series of events, etc, written from personal experience or special sources
an autobiographical record
a collection or record, as of transactions of a society, etc

British Dictionary definitions for memoirs (2 of 2)

memoir
/ (ˈmɛmwɑː) /

noun

a biography or historical account, esp one based on personal knowledge
an essay or monograph, as on a specialized topic
obsolete a memorandum

Derived forms of memoir

memoirist, noun

Word Origin for memoir

C16: from French, from Latin memoria memory