nostalgia

UK: /nɒˈstældʒə/

US: /nɑˈstældʒə, nə-/

US: (no stal′jə, -jē ə, nə-)

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

nos•tal•gia /nɑˈstældʒə, nə-/   n. [uncountable]

1. a sentimental longing for places, things, friends, or conditions belonging to the past.

See -alg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nos•tal•gia  (no stal′jə, -jē ə, nə-), n. 

1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends;
   a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time:
   a nostalgia for his college days.
2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.

• Greek nóst(os) a return home + -algia -algia
• Neo-Latin
• 1770–80

nos•tal′gic, adj. 
nos•tal′gi•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nostalgia / nɒˈstældʒə -dʒɪə/ noun

1. a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events, etc
2. the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc
3. longing for home or family; homesickness

Etymology: 18th Century: New Latin (translation of German Heimweh homesickness), from Greek nostos a return home + -algia