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Definition of nostalgia

nostalgia

/nɑːˈstæl.dʒə/
nos · tal · gia
Adverb:nostalgically
•
Plural:nostalgias
•
Adjective:nostalgic
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nostalgia Lexical Profile

nostalgia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

Example

"Listening to those old jazz records always fills him with a warm sense of nostalgia for his university years."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nostalgia

• Rhymes for nostalgia

• Nearby Words

nosocomephobia
nosocomephobic
nossob
nostalgia
nostalgic
nostalgically
nostril

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1688 as Modern Latin 'nostalgia' by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer to describe acute homesickness among Swiss mercenaries, combining Ancient Greek 'nostos' (homecoming) and 'algos' (pain, grief).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nostalgia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nostalgia
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