souvenir

noun

sou·​ve·​nir ˈsü-və-ˌnir 

ˌsü-və-ˈnir

: something kept as a reminder (as of a place one has visited)

a souvenir of her travels

a souvenir shop

Synonyms of souvenir

• reminder
• memorial

Examples of souvenir in a Sentence

When I went to the Super Bowl, I kept my ticket stub as a souvenir.

kept their love letters as souvenirs of their courtship

Recent Examples on the Web

Trips may require more planning and a little less spontaneity, but the savings leave more room for my souvenir budget. —Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026

For all other schools, these are souvenirs. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026

So Mom clears them out, taking them to a nearby nature preserve and natural-history museum, where the sharp-eyed Sasha notices the teen-age Jeremy stealing a souvenir keychain from a rotating rack. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026

Check out the general store for souvenirs, grab a burger, and strap on your dancing shoes. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, act of remembering, from Middle French, from (se) souvenir to remember, from Latin subvenire to come up, come to mind — more at subvention

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing souvenir

• souvenir sheet
• souvenir shop

Rhymes for souvenir

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

souvenir

noun

sou·​ve·​nir ˈsü-və-ˌni(ə)r 

ˌsü-və-ˈni(ə)r

: something that serves as a reminder : memento