# forgetful

/fɝˈɡɛtfəɫ/ (US) · /fəɡˈɛtfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forgetful
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

having a poor memory or often losing things. You use this to describe someone who cannot remember where they put their keys or what they were going to say.

For teachers: characterised by a tendency to lose things or forget information. Often used to describe a person's cognitive state or a specific memory-related error.

## Examples

- He is very forgetful and always loses his glasses.
- The forgetful student left his textbook at home and had to borrow one from a classmate.
- While the software is designed to be intuitive, even the most forgetful users should find the recovery process straightforward if they follow the on-screen prompts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.