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

Walking through a historic cathedral in zip-off cargo pants and a neon-yellow souvenir shirt broadcasts your status as an outsider. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Tourists who want to take home a quintessential Bornholm souvenir, or the odd local who needs to replace a broken glass. — Mary Holland, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026

Annotated divorce papers blown up and mounted, interactive exhibits detailing how your mom’s last round of chemo didn’t take, souvenir T-shirts emblazoned with your best friend’s last words before the car crash. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026

In a room filled with enough humanitarian awards, photos with legends, and travel souvenirs to fill a museum, the bike is a delightful reminder that even an American icon has to get her cardio in. — Gloria Steinem, Glamour, 4 Sep. 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