forgotten

Forgotten is the past participle of forget and an adjective describing something that has not been remembered, or has fallen from memory, recognition, or neglect. It can apply to people who are no longer remembered, objects that have been misplaced or overlooked, or events that have faded from public awareness. In everyday use, forgotten emphasizes absence or neglect rather than active forgetting.

Historically, forget comes from Old English forgietan, with the past tense forgot and the past participle forgotten. The form forgotten is used when the action of forgetting is completed relative to another moment, as in the forgotten records were rediscovered.

Forgotten can describe memories or places that are no longer known or accessible, or individuals who have been neglected by society. It can carry a somber tone, hinting at loss, erosion of history, or the fragility of memory. The word often implies a gap between what was once known and what remains.

In culture, the word appears in titles and themes related to memory, oblivion, and neglect. It is used across literature, film, and music to evoke a sense of lapse or departure. See also related terms such as forgetfulness, memory, oblivion, and neglect.