eidetic

E1I1D2E1T1I1C3
/aɪˈdɛtɪk/

adjective

Marked by or resulting from extraordinary ability to recall detailed and vivid mental images of visual images.

“an eidetic memory”

Similar
representational
OriginGerman eidetisch ← Ancient Greek εἰδητικός →
UncommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

adjectiveeidetic (comparative more eidetic, superlative most eidetic)

comparative more eidetic · superlative most eidetic · alternative edetic

  1. medicineMarked by or resulting from extraordinary ability to recall detailed and vivid mental images of visual images.

    an eidetic memory

    3 more examples

    ‘Funny that I should remember it? I have an eidetic memory for numbers, can't help

    1979, Kyril Bonfiglioli, After You with the Pistol, Penguin, published 2001, page 276

    Eidetic images are pictures in the head. They are internal images that have the full force of conventional vision, but which are retained solely in the mind of the eidetiker.

    1993, Will Self, My Idea of Fun

    Les Assassins’ M. Fortier and M. Broullime and some others of his comrades-on-wheels believed Remy Marathe to be eidetic, near-perfect in recall and detail.

    1996, David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest […], Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 127
  2. human sciencesOf or relating to the essential forms of a phenomena.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof visual imagery of almost photographic accuracy

Similar
representational
Also see
representational

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekεἰδητικός
  2. Germaneidetisch
  3. Englisheidetic

From German eidetisch, from Ancient Greek εἰδητικός (eidētikós), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”).

More words from German, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian кристално ясен
  • кристално ясен (kristalno jasen)pertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Danish eidetisk
  • eidetiskpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Dutch eidetisch
  • eidetischpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Finnish valokuva-, eideettinen
  • valokuva-pertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
  • eideettinenpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
French eidétique
  • eidétiquepertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
German eidetisch, fotographisch
  • eidetischpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
  • fotographischpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Hungarian eidetikus
  • eidetikuspertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Polish ejdetyczny
  • ejdetycznypertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Portuguese eidético
  • eidéticopertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Spanish eidético
  • eidéticopertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Swedish eidetisk
  • eidetiskpertaining to a memory of perfect clarity
Cite this entry
APA

eidetic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eidetic

MLA

“eidetic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eidetic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “eidetic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eidetic.

Source: eidetic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.