What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Recollection vs Familiarity - What's the difference?

recollection | familiarity |

As nouns the difference between recollection and familiarity

is that recollection is the act of recollecting, or recalling to the memory; the operation by which objects are recalled to the memory, or ideas revived in the mind; reminiscence; remembrance while familiarity is the state of being extremely friendly; intimacy.

recollection

English

Etymology 1

Via (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The act of recollecting, or recalling to the memory; the operation by which objects are recalled to the memory, or ideas revived in the mind; reminiscence; remembrance.
  • The power of recalling ideas to the mind, or the period within which things can be recollected; remembrance
    • ''Alas that distant event isn't within my recollection anymore.
  • That which is recollected; something called to mind; a reminiscence.
    • ''One of his earliest recollections ." - (Thomas Babington Macaulay).
  • (archaic) (also spelled re-collection) The act or practice of collecting or concentrating the mind; concentration; self-control.
    • ''From such an education Charles contracted habits of gravity and recollection .
    Synonyms
    * reminiscence * remembrance * memory.
    Derived terms
    * recollective
    Related terms
    * recollected

    Etymology 2

    Noun

  • Process of collecting again.
    • (Webster 1913)

    familiarity

    English

    Noun

    (familiarities)
  • The state of being extremely friendly; intimacy.
  • *, II.8:
    • It is also folly and injustice to deprive childrenof their fathers familiaritie , and ever to shew them a surly, austere, grim, and disdainefull countenance, hoping thereby to keepe them in awfull feare and duteous obedience.
  • Undue intimacy; inappropriate informality, impertinence.
  • * 1927 , G K Chesterton, The Return of Don Quixote , p.5:
    • Murrel did not in the least object to being called a monkey, yet he always felt a slight distaste when Julian Archer called him one.It had to do with a fine shade between familiarity and intimacy which men like Murrel are never ready to disregard, however ready they may be to black their faces.
  • An instance of familiar behaviour.
  • Close or habitual acquaintance with someone or something; understanding or recognition acquired from experience.

    • Derived terms

    * familiarity breeds contempt