Word Finder
What's the word for suddenly noticing something everywhere after you first learn about it?
The word you're looking for
This is the feeling when you learn something new, then start noticing it everywhere. It is also called the frequency illusion.
Other words that fit
Use this in more general or more formal contexts, because it explains the effect clearly.
Use this if you want a more technical term for noticing something more often after recent attention.
Use this when you mean the mind notices only some things, not the specific after-learning effect.
Use this only if the person is treating the repeated thing as proof of a belief.
Why this word
The best-known term for this effect is the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. It describes how a new word, idea, or object seems to appear everywhere after you first notice it. In psychology, this is often called the frequency illusion. Do not confuse it with confirmation bias, which is about looking for evidence that supports a belief. The term is common online, but frequency illusion is the clearer choice in neutral or academic writing.
In context
- After I learned that word, I saw it everywhere.
- That feeling is called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.
- In class, we discussed the frequency illusion.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon a real psychology term?
- Yes. It is a common name for the frequency illusion, though it is not a formal clinical diagnosis.
- Is frequency illusion the same as confirmation bias?
- No. Frequency illusion is about noticing something more often. Confirmation bias is about favoring information that supports what you already believe.
- What is a simpler word for this effect?
- A simple way to say it is: “Now I keep seeing it everywhere.”