Definition
A principle of memory stating that the more often a piece of information is recalled or applied, the more firmly it becomes established and the more readily it can be retrieved later. In instructional terms, repeated use of knowledge or a skill strengthens its retention.
Plain English
The more times you use something you have learned, the better you remember it. Repetition strengthens memory.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor training and lesson planning, especially when discussing why review, practice, and repeated use help memory.
Derivation
Frequency comes from a Latin word meaning “often” or “crowded together.” Use comes from a Latin word meaning “to employ or put into practice.” Together, the phrase points to how often something is put into practice, not just whether it was taught once.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors use this principle to design lessons that revisit key skills and concepts often, so students retain them under real flight conditions. For pilots, it explains why regular practice -- not just initial learning -- is what keeps procedures sharp and reliable.
Intuition Check
Do not read frequency here as a radio frequency. Here, frequency means how often something is used, practiced, or recalled.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor built short review questions into every lesson, relying on frequency of use to lock the radio call procedures into memory.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor raised the frequency of use of navigation terms through repeated in-flight exercises.