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Need a mnemonic device to remember how to spell mnemonic? Although the word’s pronunciation begins with an n sound, the spelling begins with an m, as in memory. There are very few English words that start this way (mnestic and mnioid are two others), and as with similar Latin and Greek borrowings such as pneumonia, we retained the double initial consonant but not the pronunciation. In addition to its adjectival use, mnemonic is also a noun used to refer to a mnemonic device, such as the famous—or infamous—spelling dictum “I before E, except after C,” which isn't consistently helpful (just ask your neighbor to weigh in on it).
Examples of mnemonic in a Sentence
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 June 2024
To make these connections stick, use mnemonic devices that resonate with you.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Check out this handy mnemonic popular on Twitter/X, as well as New York Times critic Jennifer Szalai’s terrific profile in that paper’s magazine.
—Boris Kachka, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2023
While some calls do require a mnemonic to remember, others are very distinctive.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
In fact, Google designed a flashy tool—complete with handy mnemonic devices—to help people master the basics.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 24 July 2023
Ultimately, the mnemonic device Gilles employs to retain his phony Persian is turned to another purpose.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 12 June 2023
As mnemonic devices, photographs are intimidating in their mimetic perfection.
—Phoebe Chen, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2023
The Great Russian Mnemonist, Cortex, Volume 49, Issue 8, September 2013, Pages 2260-2263 Memory champions — winners of contests that test feats of recall, like quickly learning the order of stacks of cards — have similar capabilities, thanks to certain mnemonic techniques.
—Teal Burrell, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2016
David Pierce, The Verge, 27 Mar. 2024
Some of the best alternatives include exercise, meditation, visualization techniques (mnemonics devices) and a diet rich in omega-3, blueberries, nuts and seeds.
—Kelly Santana Banks, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2023
Advertisement Out of desperation, Mr. Lorayne discovered some library books on memory training and mnemonics, the system of using mental cues to aid memory.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2023
Safe sleep practices can be summed up in an easy mnemonic: Parents only need to remember ABC: alone, back, crib, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Since then, spelling mnemonics have proliferated and gotten better.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2023
Bang-bang-bang-bang went the musical mnemonic at 10 to the hour, every hour.
—Dave Holmes, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2023
In interviews and more than a dozen books, Mr. Lorayne shared examples of mnemonics at work.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2023
Students at Bread for the City’s organizing institute are introduced to a mnemonic for structuring their approach, CEVA, which stands for connect, engage, vision and ask.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mnemonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mnemonic
Cite this Entry
“Mnemonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mnemonic. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mnemonic
1 of 2 adjective
mnemonic
2 of 2 noun
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