recollection

noun

rec·​ol·​lec·​tion ˌre-kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

a

: tranquility of mind

b

: religious contemplation

2

a

: the action or power of recalling to mind

b

: something recalled to the mind

Synonyms

• anamnesis
• memory
• recall
• remembrance
• reminiscence

Choose the Right Synonym for recollection

memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence mean the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered.

memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory

that incident was now just a distant memory

remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Examples of recollection in a Sentence

Her recollection of the accident is very different from mine.

She has only a vague recollection of her seventh birthday party.

His novel is largely based on his own recollections of his childhood in the inner city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators testified that Mullen gave inconsistent recollections when asked about Fischer during two interviews. —Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025

In 2023, liberals accounted for 32%, moderates 50% and conservatives 18% of Chicago adults, based on respondents’ recollections. —Will Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025

My mother once went to watch a game, and her abiding recollection was of his having burned himself badly with a tanning lamp, in preparation for her visit, and hardly being able to put on his helmet. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025

Bhogal’s recollection of their conversation — their only call — offers the most detailed public account of Mangione during the months leading up to his arrest. —Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing recollection

• have no recollection
• to the best of someone's recollection

Rhymes for recollection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• disinfection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection

Kids Definition

recollection

noun

rec·​ol·​lec·​tion ˌrek-ə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the action or power of recalling to mind

2

: something recalled to the mind