Meaning & use
eidetic
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Able to recall pictures, scenes or objects with astonishing clarity, almost as if still looking at them.
Grammar: Usually before memory, imagery or ability: an eidetic memory.
Patterns
- eidetic memory
- eidetic imagery
Some young children seem to have eidetic imagery that fades as they grow older.
The detective's eidetic memory let her recite every page of the file.
Psychologists have debated whether truly eidetic recall exists in adults.
Common combinations
- eidetic memory
- He claimed to have an eidetic memory for faces.
- eidetic imagery
- Eidetic imagery is more common in children.
- eidetic recall
- Her eidetic recall helped her pass the exam.
- eidetic ability
- The study tested eidetic ability in schoolchildren.
Synonyms and how they differ
- photographic
- Photographic is the casual phrase for memory like a camera, but it overstates what science has shown.
- vivid
- Vivid describes any strong, clear image or memory, whereas eidetic suggests near-perfect visual recall.
- retentive
- Retentive means good at holding information generally, not specifically visual pictures.
Opposites
Word family
- eidetically adverb
- in an eidetic way
- eidetiker noun
- a person with eidetic imagery, used in psychology
Commonly confused: eidetic or idyllic? eidetic or edict?
eidetic vs idyllic
Idyllic describes something peaceful and perfect, and has nothing to do with memory despite the similar start.
eidetic vs edict
An edict is an official order, and sounds a little like eidetic but means something unrelated.
Practice
The psychologist tested whether the girl had ___ memory by showing her a picture for ten seconds and asking for tiny details.
Choose one answer.
Eidetic memory is the term for vivid visual recall, which this test measures; idyllic is unrelated to memory, and amnesiac refers to memory loss.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “eidetic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.