commemorative
Americanadjective
-
serving to commemorate.
a commemorative monument; a commemorative dinner.
-
(of a coin, medal, or postage stamp) issued to commemorate a historical event, to honor the memory of a personage, etc.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of commemorative
First recorded in 1605–15; commemorat(ion) + -ive
Explanation
Anything that acts as a memorial to something or someone is commemorative — whether it's an action like a charity walk or an object like a war memorial. Certain commemorative objects are known simply as commemoratives. Think, for example, of the Elvis Presley commemorative stamps your Dad keeps in his sock drawer (he was young once), or the commemorative coins minted for such events as the inauguration of a new President or the moon landing. See late night TV in particular for "special commemorative offers."
Vocabulary lists containing commemorative
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich
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Hope Springs
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Don Colossus stands proud atop a stone pedestal, keeping vigil over a small commemorative plaque.
From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026
Gold and silver coins currently issued by the Mint are commemorative or collector items made of alloys with lower percentages of the precious metals.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
There are no luxury shops onboard, just basic souvenir shops selling shirts, postcards and other commemorative items.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
The commemorative passport is the latest move by the administration to associate Trump's name and likeness with various government programmes and public buildings.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
We joked about all the commemorative marches and boring speeches we had been spared by leaving this particular weekend.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
