Collective memory
Example: The collective memory of the nation shapes its cultural identity.
Definition
"Collective memory" refers to the shared pool of knowledge and information held by a group of people, often passed down through generations, that shapes their common identity and understanding of past events. It influences how a community remembers and interprets history.
Etymology
The term "collective memory" combines 'collective,' from the Latin 'collectivus,' meaning gathered or accumulated, and 'memory,' from the Latin 'memoria,' meaning remembrance. It was popularized in the 20th century by sociologists like Maurice Halbwachs to describe how groups remember their past together.
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"Collective memory" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (C1) - set 1", containing 198 commonly used words.
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