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

In the days after his passing, a private memorial service was held at Paisley Park, attended by Prince's close family and friends. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026

Britain’s royal family will mark what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday by unveiling comprehensive plans for a new charity and memorial in central London. —Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026

Noun

Also in attendance was the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as members of the memorial's committee, including the memorial's designer Lord Norman Foster. —Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026

The memorial is set to include statues of Elizabeth and her late husband, Prince Philip, near Buckingham Palace, as well as gardens and a glass bridge representing the tiara that Elizabeth wore when she wed Philip in 1947. —Katie Kindelan, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

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

• boreal
• ambassadorial
• combinatorial
• conspiratorial
• gladiatorial
• gubernatorial
• inquisitorial
• mediatorial
• multifactorial
• prosecutorial
• supratentorial
• arboreal

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