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
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Receive a button with collectable stickers as a memento.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2026
At Pe Erre Domino Club in Humboldt Park, husband and wife co-owners Roberto Rivera and Miriam Velez have adorned the walls with treasured possessions and mementos of Puerto Rico's beloved native son, Bad Bunny.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Courtesy Jeremy Hansen All four astronauts plan to bring small tokens and mementos on their flight around the moon.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 31 Jan. 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 11 Feb. 2026.
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memento
noun
