flashback
|flash/back|
/ˈflæʃˌbæk/
sudden vivid memory
Etymology
'flashback' originates from English, combining 'flash' meaning 'a sudden burst of light' and 'back' indicating 'a return to a previous state or time'.
'flashback' was first used in the early 20th century in the context of film and literature to describe a scene that interrupts the chronological sequence of events to depict an earlier occurrence.
Initially, it referred to a narrative technique in storytelling, but it has evolved to describe a psychological phenomenon as well.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sudden, vivid memory of a past event, often traumatic, that interrupts the present.
She experienced a flashback of her childhood during the therapy session.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/17 20:52