oblivious

[uh-bliv-ee-uh s] /əˈblɪv i əs/

adjective

unmindful; unconscious; unaware (usually followed by of or to):

She was oblivious of his admiration.

forgetful; without remembrance or memory:

oblivious of my former failure.

Archaic. inducing forgetfulness.

Origin

1400-50; late Middle English < Latin oblīviōsus forgetful, equivalent to oblīvī(scī) to for-get + -ōsus -ous

Related forms

obliviously, adverb

obliviousness, noun

self-oblivious, adjective

semioblivious, adjective

semiobliviously, adverb

semiobliviousness, noun

unoblivious, adjective

unobliviously, adverb

unobliviousness, noun

Can be confused

oblivious, obvious.

Synonyms

2. See absent-minded.

Examples from the web for oblivious

They sat there cricket and spider, each oblivious to the other.
To dismiss how these cycles continuously repeat themselves is to be oblivious to cyclic patterns.
What is surprising to me is how oblivious people are to the speed and magnitude of this progress.
My concern and you for some reason seem oblivious to it is that cultures come and go.
People surge into the shallows, oblivious of the shark danger.
These huge plant-eaters are oblivious to the consequences-for good or ill-of their dining habits.
When unanticipated events occur, the system is oblivious.
GM seemed oblivious to the lessons emerging from the electronics industry.
Its oblivious self-interest violates the unity of purpose that defines your system as yours.
The vast majority of organizations, that could tap into the financial pipeline, are oblivious to how to do so.

British Dictionary definitions for oblivious

oblivious

/əˈblɪvɪəs/

adjective

foll by to or of. unaware or forgetful

Derived Forms

obliviously, adverb
obliviousness, noun

Usage note

It was formerly considered incorrect to use oblivious to mean unaware, but this use is now acceptable

Word Origin and History for oblivious

adj.

mid-15c., from Latin obliviosus "forgetful, that easily forgets; producing forgetfulness," from oblivion (see oblivion). Meaning "unaware, unconscious (of something)" is from 1862, formerly regarded as erroneous, this is now the general meaning and the word has lost its original sense of "no longer aware or mindful." Properly should be used with to, not of. Related: Obliviously; obliviousness.