Forgetfulness: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a general tendency to forget things, which can be common in everyday life and usually is not linked to any serious condition.

• Her forgetfulness caused her to miss several important appointments
• Lately, his forgetfulness has been a bit of a problem

A medical condition where a person cannot remember certain information, often as a result of brain injury or trauma. This term carries a more serious and clinical connotation.

• After the accident, he suffered from amnesia and couldn't remember his past
• The patient was diagnosed with retrograde amnesia

A broader term that can refer to any form of losing pieces of memory, whether short-term or long-term, and can often be associated with aging or medical conditions.

• Her memory loss has been gradually getting worse with age
• The medication aims to slow down his memory loss

Refers to a temporary state of distraction or preoccupation, leading to forgetting things. Usually describes someone who is mentally focused on other things.

• His absentmindedness is why he left his keys in the door
• She walked out without her umbrella thanks to her absentmindedness