Finesentence

Nostalgic Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

📜
Save

nostalgic

nos-tal-gic

🇺🇸 /nɔˈstæɫdʒɪk/ · 🇬🇧 /nəstˈældʒɪk/

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling of nostalgia

Having or showing a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

Synonyms

longing, sentimental, wistful, yearning.

Examples of usage

  • I felt nostalgic when I found my old childhood toys in the attic.
  • She became nostalgic when she heard their favorite song from high school.
  • The smell of fresh baked cookies always makes me feel nostalgic for my grandmother's kitchen.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “nostalgic”

Nostalgic is a 3-syllable adjective (nos-tal-gic). It is pronounced /nɔˈstæɫdʒɪk/ in American English and /nəstˈældʒɪk/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 4 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #18,205 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'nostalgic'

The word 'nostalgic' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the combination of the Greek words 'nostos' (return home) and 'algos' (pain). It was first used to describe a medical condition related to homesickness, but over time its meaning evolved to convey a sentimental yearning for the past. The concept of nostalgia has been studied by psychologists and philosophers, highlighting its complex interplay between memory, emotion, and identity.

See also: nostalgia, nostalgically.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,205, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.