memoir

UK: /ˈmɛmwɑː^r/ US: /ˈmɛmwɑr, -wɔr/ ,(mem′wär, -wôr)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mem•oir /ˈmɛmwɑr, -wɔr/   n. [countable]

1. Literature a record of events based on the writer's personal observation.
2. Literature Usually, memoirs. [plural] an autobiography:
   The general retired and began to write his memoirs.

See -mem-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mem•oir  (mem′wär, -wôr), n. 

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

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

Synonyms

• 2. a. journal, recollections, reminiscences.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

memoir / ˈmɛmwɑː/ noun

1. a biography or historical account, esp one based on personal knowledge
2. an essay or monograph, as on a specialized topic

Etymology: 16th Century: from French, from Latin memoria memory

ˈmemoirist noun