Samskaras or sanskaras has several context driven meanings in Indian philosophy and Indian religions. One of these is "mental impression, recollection, psychological imprint" and this meaning is the basis for its use in Hindu philosophies, particularly in the development of its karma theory.
According to various schools of Indian philosophy, every action, intent or preparation by an individual leaves a sanskara (impression, impact, imprint) in the deeper structure of his or her mind. These impressions then await volitional fruition in that individual's future, in the form of hidden expectations, circumstances or unconscious sense of self-worth. These Sanskaras manifest as tendency, karmic impulse, subliminal impression, habitual potency or innate dispositions. The theory of Sanskara has also been used, in ancient Indian texts, to develop explanations for how and why human beings remember anything, and the impact these memories have on his sense of suffering, happiness and contentness.
Example via www.mindpodnetwork.com: Discriminating Powers & Future Karma