Meanings
engram1
plural engrams · alternative engramme
- A postulated physical or biochemical change in neural tissue that represents a memory.
I use the word engram to denote this permanent change wrought by a stimulus; the sum of such engrams in an organism may be called its "engram-store," among which must distinguish inherited from acquired engrams.
1921 January, Richard Semon, “II (Engraphic Action of Stimuli on the Individual)”, in Louis Simon, transl., The Mneme, Cornell University Library, published 2005, page 24 - ScientologyA painful, negative mental image representing a past event.
Engram2
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna postulated biochemical change (presumably in neural tissue) that represents a memory
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐν“in”
- GermanEngramm
- Englishengram
Borrowed from German Engramm which was coined by German evolutionary biologist Richard Semon in 1904. First attested in English in 1921 (see quotation below). Ultimately from Ancient Greek ἐν (en, “in”) + γράμμα (grámma, “writing, picture”).
More words from German, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish muistijälki, engrammi
- muistijälkipostulated change in neural tissue
- engrammiScientology: negative mental image
German Engramm
- Engrammpostulated change in neural tissue
Greek έγγραμμα
- έγγραμμα (éngramma)postulated change in neural tissue
Spanish engrama
- engramapostulated change in neural tissue
Swedish minnesspår
- minnesspårpostulated change in neural tissue
Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
engram. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/engram
“engram.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/engram. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “engram,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/engram.
Source: engram on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.