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

Fans of barbecue and ribs will want to stop by the Waterloo Club or grab some sauce as a souvenir at a local store. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026

Guests are also welcome to head down the winding stairwell to the shaft for a souvenir T-shirt, beer mug and more. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Teammates swarmed Mevis after the game-winner as long snapper Jake McQuaide jogged to retrieve the ball, presumably as a souvenir for the rookie kicker who spent last spring in the UFL and the early part of this season waiting for a call. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 19 Jan. 2026

The stores made gift packets of rubles and sold them as souvenirs. —Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 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