Mnemonic: meaning, definitions and examples

Utilized primarily in educational settings or situations that require memorization techniques to help remember information.

• The mnemonic 'PEMDAS' helps students remember the order of operations in mathematics

A general term for tools or strategies to assist with remembering information, applicable in everyday situations as well as educational or professional settings.

• Flashcards are an effective memory aid for learning new vocabulary

Commonly used in daily life to refer to prompts or alerts that ensure tasks are completed or information is recalled.

• I set a reminder on my phone to take my medication at 8 PM

Used in various contexts, especially in psychological or performative environments, to trigger a specific action or memory.

• The director gave the actor a cue to start his speech

Use 'mnemonic' when referring to a technique or device designed to help remember information through association, such as acronyms or rhymes.

• The mnemonic 'HOMES' helps you remember the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
• To remember the order of operations in math, you can use the mnemonic 'PEMDAS': Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction.

Use 'memory aid' to describe any technique, device, or tool specifically created to improve memory or assist in the remembrance of information.

• Flashcards are a common memory aid for studying vocabulary.
• He downloaded an app that serves as a memory aid for memorizing historical dates.

Use 'reminder' when talking about something that makes someone remember a particular thing, often a note or an alert.

• She set a phone reminder to take her medicine every evening.
• The calendar app sent her a reminder about the upcoming meeting.

Use 'cue' when referring to something that serves as a signal or prompt to remember something or to take action, often related to performance or behavior.

• The actor delivered his lines perfectly after a subtle cue from the director.
• She uses sticky notes as a cue to remind her of important tasks for the day.