me·mo·ri·al
mə-ˈmȯr-ē-əl 
1
: serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative
2
: of or relating to memory
1
2
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
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
Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
In honor of Bishop Gumbleton’s legacy, the Gumbleton family requests memorial contributions to be made to: The Solanus Casey Center, St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, IHM Sisters, or Kay Lasante Clinic and select health care/Kay Lasante.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Some stopped for a snack after a memorial service or a pint after their kids soccer tournament or for a break while shopping.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
In 1995, Murray hosted rapper Eazy-E’s (née Eric Wright) memorial service.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
On March 17, a memorial service was held for her at Osbourn Park High, in an auditorium named after her.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
During her late husband Kobe Bryant’s memorial service on Feb. 24, 2020, Bryant revealed in her eulogy that the athlete (who died in a helicopter crash on Jan 26. 2020 with their daughter Gianna) had bought her the famous piece, as well as the shoes.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
After the camp was liberated, memorial officials said the human remains were kept as evidence of the crimes committed.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
North Central University President Scott Hagan announced the scholarship on June 4 at the Minneapolis memorial service for Floyd.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Emi Tuyetnhi Tran, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Following the performance, Clemens reemerged to lead one final memorial in honor of Keith, expressing his condolences and gratitude to his family — including his wife Tricia Lucus and children Shelley, Krystal and Stelen — who were in attendance.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Second, the blocks that lie on the ground outside the building, according to the accompanying signage, are invitations for people in the counties where lynchings happened to set up their own memorials.
—The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In a pair of posts, Ginny also said plans for a memorial will be shared at a later date and shared a link to support Schiller’s partner Milena and his young son Gabriel.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
His agent, Patrick Herold, said an announcement regarding plans for a memorial will be released at a future date.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The last public event held at the museum was a memorial in her honor packed with hundreds of people.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
There is little enthusiasm for creating new memorials to him.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Earlier this month, hundreds of Flaco’s admirers left flowers and letters at an oak tree in Central Park during a memorial, according to the New York Times.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Detectives are trying to establish a timeline as to when the stones were last confirmed to be inside the memorial enclosures and are reviewing surveillance video in the area, police say.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
In honor of Bishop Gumbleton’s legacy, the Gumbleton family requests memorial contributions to be made to: The Solanus Casey Center, St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, IHM Sisters, or Kay Lasante Clinic and select health care/Kay Lasante.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Some stopped for a snack after a memorial service or a pint after their kids soccer tournament or for a break while shopping.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
In 1995, Murray hosted rapper Eazy-E’s (née Eric Wright) memorial service.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
On March 17, a memorial service was held for her at Osbourn Park High, in an auditorium named after her.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
During her late husband Kobe Bryant’s memorial service on Feb. 24, 2020, Bryant revealed in her eulogy that the athlete (who died in a helicopter crash on Jan 26. 2020 with their daughter Gianna) had bought her the famous piece, as well as the shoes.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
After the camp was liberated, memorial officials said the human remains were kept as evidence of the crimes committed.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
North Central University President Scott Hagan announced the scholarship on June 4 at the Minneapolis memorial service for Floyd.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Additionally, the caucus is urging the governor and state government to create a memorial for the six Latino workers who were killed in the bridge collapse, Snowden said.
—Emi Tuyetnhi Tran, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Following the performance, Clemens reemerged to lead one final memorial in honor of Keith, expressing his condolences and gratitude to his family — including his wife Tricia Lucus and children Shelley, Krystal and Stelen — who were in attendance.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Second, the blocks that lie on the ground outside the building, according to the accompanying signage, are invitations for people in the counties where lynchings happened to set up their own memorials.
—The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In a pair of posts, Ginny also said plans for a memorial will be shared at a later date and shared a link to support Schiller’s partner Milena and his young son Gabriel.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
His agent, Patrick Herold, said an announcement regarding plans for a memorial will be released at a future date.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The last public event held at the museum was a memorial in her honor packed with hundreds of people.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
There is little enthusiasm for creating new memorials to him.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Earlier this month, hundreds of Flaco’s admirers left flowers and letters at an oak tree in Central Park during a memorial, according to the New York Times.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'memorial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near memorial
Cite this Entry
“Memorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorial. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
memorial
2 of 2 noun
: something that keeps alive the memory of a person or event
especially
: monument sense 1
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