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

• 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

Marché Artisanal for house finds, souvenirs, gifts, jewelry, and African art. —Essence, 13 Oct. 2025

Spend Time Shopping Despite its size, there are several places in town to pick up a souvenir or find a one-of-a-kind good. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025

Yankees exceptionalism now exists not on the field, but in the team store — on slogans and souvenirs, not titles and trophies. —Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

According to the New York Post, visitors broke off parts of the headstone as souvenirs. —Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

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