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

The novelty vending machines mold souvenir sculptures — a train car, a gorilla, a bust of Abraham Lincoln — in under a minute, filling a two-sided mold with hot plastic, then hollowing it out with compressed air. — Juliet Bennett Rylah, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

Your ticket also comes with a commemorative souvenir glass plus access to a variety of new offerings, including a petting zoo, photo booth, games and more. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Save your precious suitcase space for souvenirs, and grab a crease-proof dress (or three), below. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Find a souvenir in the high-end boutiques on Montana Avenue, the independent shops and vintage stores along Main Street or the brand-name peddlers at Santa Monica Place. — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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