memorial

1 of 2

adjective

me·​mo·​ri·​al mə-ˈmȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce memorial (audio)
1
: serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative
2
: of or relating to memory
memorially adverb

memorial

2 of 2

noun

1
: something that keeps remembrance alive: such as
a
b
: something (such as a speech or ceremony) that commemorates
2
a
: record, memoir
language and literature … the memorials of another ageJ. 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

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
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Adjective
This year, for the camp memorial service, Miles decorated a luminaire bag with lightning bolts. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 Other big stories ➤ How much did Charlie Kirk's memorial cost Glendale? Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
Lee’s just about to explain Betty Jo’s absence when those cops that hate him — last seen at Dale’s memorial — scoop him up and deliver him to hell. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025 What to Know Supporters are encouraged to wear red in memory of Kirk, a gesture that has been promoted at memorials and online. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for memorial

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of memorial was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Memorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorial. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

memorial

1 of 2 adjective
me·​mo·​ri·​al mə-ˈmōr-ē-əl How to pronounce memorial (audio)
-ˈmȯr-
: serving to preserve the memory of a person or an event
a memorial service
memorially adverb

memorial

2 of 2 noun
: something that keeps alive the memory of a person or event
especially : monument sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on memorial

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