memorial

American  

[muh-mawr-ee-uhl, -mohr-] / məˈmɔr i əl, -ˈmoʊr- /

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.

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adjective

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

   memorial services.

2. of or relating to the memory.

memorial British  

/ mɪˈmɔːrɪəl /

adjective

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

2. of or involving memory

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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

Etymology

Origin of memorial

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

Example Sentences

In the lavish memorial erected by his grieving widow, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert is golden, but few world leaders are permanently gilded, and certainly not before their deaths.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Never mind that this makes no sense, that no human has ever hated something as sweet and totally innocuous as a memorial.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

The memorial centres "visibly demonstrate what happens when the dignity of all human beings is not protected," they said in a joint statement.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

After Bill Boyd, who ran my neighborhood hardware store, died recently, his family decided to hold a memorial gathering on the sales floor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Grandmother Lucy also said that dogs don’t have memorial services.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

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