forgetfulness Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun tendency to forget
  2. noun unawareness caused by neglectful or heedless failure to remember
    • his forgetfulness increased as he grew older

WordNet

For*get"ful*ness noun
Definitions
  1. The quality of being forgetful; prononess to let slip from the mind.
  2. Loss of remembrance or recollection; a ceasing to remember; oblivion.
    A sweet forgetfulness of human care. Pope.
  3. Failure to bear in mind; careless omission; inattention; as, forgetfulness of duty. Syn. -- Forgetfulnes, Oblivion. Forgetfulness is Anglo-Saxon, and oblivion is Latin. The former commonly has reference to persons, and marks a state of mind, and marks a state of mind; the latter commonly has reference to things, and indicates a condition into which they are sunk. We blame a man for his forgetfulness; we speak of some old custom as buried in oblivion. But this discrimination is not strictly adhered to.

Webster 1913