memorial

[muh-mawr-ee-uhl, -mohr-]

noun

1. something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.

2. a written statement of facts presented to a sovereign, a legislative body, etc., as the ground of, or expressed in the form of, a petition or remonstrance.

adjective

1. preserving the memory of a person or thing; commemorative.

   memorial services.

2. of or relating to the memory.

memorial

/ mɪˈmɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. serving to preserve the memory of the dead or a past event

2. of or involving memory

noun

1. something serving as a remembrance

2. a written statement of facts submitted to a government, authority, etc, in conjunction with a petition

3. an informal diplomatic paper

Other Word Forms

• memorially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of memorial¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin memoriāle, noun use of neuter of Latin memoriālis for or containing memoranda. See memory, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of memorial¹

C14: from Late Latin memoriāle a reminder, neuter of memoriālis belonging to remembrance

Example Sentences

In another section of the cemetery stands a memorial "to the heroes of the Special Military Operation", the official label the Kremlin continues to employ for Russia's war on Ukraine.

From BBC

She said more than a year ago, thieves stole more than 700 bronze plaques from several memorial walls and headstones.

From Los Angeles Times

At the memorial, renowned filmmaker Angus Gibson touched on this, describing how she would ask him for work during difficult times.

From BBC

Blackened by soot, the gutted and derelict remains of South Africa's infamous Usindiso building in central Johannesburg are an unintentional memorial to the 76 people who died here in a devastating fire two years ago.

From BBC

You would think conservatives would have at least given him a proper memorial.

From Salon

Related Words

• ceremony 
• headstone 
• mausoleum 
• plaque 
• remembrance 
• statue 
• tombstone