# memoir

/ˈmɛmˌwɑɹ/ (US) · /mˈɛmwɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/memoir
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. biography from personal knowledge

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

a book about someone else's life written by a person who knew them very well.

For teachers: a biographical account of a subject based on the author's personal knowledge or intimate association with them.

- He wrote a moving memoir of his late father, who was a famous poet.
- The diplomat's memoir of the former prime minister provides an intimate, if somewhat biased, look at the private motivations behind the treaty.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'of' and the name of the subject.

Teaching tip: This sense is less common today; modern readers usually expect a memoir to be about the author's own life.

## Examples

- She is writing a memoir about her years living in Japan.
- The retired politician's memoir caused a scandal because it revealed private conversations with world leaders.
- While an autobiography attempts to capture a person's entire life, a memoir often functions as a more intimate exploration of a specific emotional or professional journey.

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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.