memorial

1 of 2

adjective

me·​mo·​ri·​al mə-ˈmȯr-ē-əl 

1

: serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative

a memorial plaque

2

: of or relating to memory

memorially

mə-ˈmȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

memorial

2 of 2

noun

1

: something that keeps remembrance alive: such as

a

: monument

a war memorial

b

: something (such as a speech or ceremony) that commemorates

c

: keepsake, memento

2

a

: record, memoir

… language and literature … the memorials of another age.

—J. H. Fisher

b

: memorandum, note

specifically : a legal abstract

c

: a statement of facts addressed to a government and often accompanied by a petition or remonstrance

Synonyms of memorial

Adjective

• commemorative
• commemorating

Noun

• reminder
• monument

Examples of memorial in a Sentence

Adjective

a memorial plaque on the bridge for a diver who died in the line of duty

Noun

the Vietnam War Memorial is a starkly beautiful testimonial to the bravery of the soldiers who served in Vietnam

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The mission comes after SpaceX launched Transporter-14 at the end of June, which carried 70 total payloads to orbit, including the remains of 166 individuals for a memorial spaceflight. —Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 25 Nov. 2025

Heyne had painted sunflowers on poster boards and stuck polaroids of her sister on it for her memorial service. —Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 24 Nov. 2025

Noun

With 22 National Park Service monuments, parks, recreation areas, historic sites, and memorials, the southwestern state is filled with incredible wonders—one of which is Saguaro National Park. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2025

Noting that a full exam and necropsy will be conducted at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the museum also shared its plans to hold a public memorial in the near future. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin memorialis, from memoria memory

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing memorial

• memorial park

Rhymes for memorial

• arboreal
• armorial
• authorial
• factorial
• manorial
• pictorial
• sartorial
• sectorial
• tutorial
• vectorial
• ambassadorial
• combinatorial

Kids Definition

memorial

1 of 2 adjective

me·​mo·​ri·​al mə-ˈmōr-ē-əl 

-ˈmȯr-

: serving to preserve the memory of a person or an event

a memorial service

memorially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

memorial

2 of 2 noun

: something that keeps alive the memory of a person or event

especially : monument sense 1