Nostalgia
Old playlists, childhood streets, and the smell of rain on concrete can pull this feeling up without warning, even when you would not trade today for yesterday.
Learn This WordMeaning
A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
Memory trick
Think "NO-STAL-GIA" = "NO STALl, GO back", nostalgia makes you want to go back in time. Or "NOST-ALGIA = MOST + ALGIA (pain)", painful longing for the past.
Examples
Listening to old songs filled her with nostalgia for her college days.
The vintage store capitalized on people's nostalgia for the 1980s.
He felt a wave of nostalgia when he visited his childhood home.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Greek nostos "homecoming" + algos "pain, ache." Originally coined as a medical term for homesickness.
Usage Notes
Often used to describe bittersweet feelings about the past, particularly in marketing, entertainment, and personal reflection.
Real-life contexts
Share memories: "This song fills me with nostalgia."
Discuss trends: "90s nostalgia is everywhere now."
Describe feelings: "I felt a wave of nostalgia visiting my old school."
Common Mistakes
Nostalgia typically has a positive or bittersweet connotation, not purely negative.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
noun
Difficulty
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