memento
noun
Libby Lubin
Did you know?
In Latin, memento is the imperative form (meaning it is used as a command) of meminisse, a verb that means “to remember.” (The term memento mori, which refers to a reminder of mortality, translates literally as “remember that you must die,” for example). The history of memento makes it clear where its spelling came from, but because a memento often helps one remember a particular moment, people occasionally spell the term momento. This is typically considered a misspelling, but it appears often enough in edited prose (including the work of such esteemed authors as George Eliot and Dylan Thomas) to have been entered in most dictionaries as an acceptable variant spelling.
Examples of memento in a Sentence
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Many programs and coaches are judged by the number of Final Four appearances, where teams are presented with watches as a memento and, at Indianapolis, souvenir racecar helmets.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
The folder was part of a stash that Dexter tucked into a duffel bag, not as mementos but as leads.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Upon its retrieval, the memento (as well as the pencil) was given to Astor’s son, Vincent, who wore the watch until his death in 1959.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for memento
Cite this Entry
“Memento.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memento. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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memento
noun
