memorabilia
Americanplural noun
singular
memorabile-
mementos; souvenirs.
-
matters or events worthy to be remembered; points worthy of note.
plural noun
-
memorable events or things
-
objects connected with famous people or events
Etymology
Origin of memorabilia
1800–10; noun use of Latin memorābilia things to be remembered, neuter plural of memorābilis memorable
Explanation
The noun memorabilia describes items that remind you of a certain event or time period. Parents who save every drawing and report card their children bring home are collecting memorabilia for the future. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt? That t-shirt is memorabilia. Memorabilia refers to anything that commemorates an event. It shows you were there — you have the t-shirt to prove it. But t-shirts didn't even exist in 1806, the year memorabilia was coined from the Latin word memorare, meaning "to bring to mind." You save memorabilia to help you remember, or jog your memory.
Vocabulary lists containing memorabilia
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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.
The Archive Room is painted blue and filled with Disney parks memorabilia he’s collected over the years including his ticket stubs, which are safely stored in a fillable glass lamp.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
Neill Hunter owns Scotcrest in Port Glasgow, which makes commemorative plaques, clan crests and other memorabilia.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
The guitar sold to an unnamed buyer after 21 minutes of bidding, as part of a rock memorabilia auction in New York on Thursday.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Lipschultz decorated his office with Phish memorabilia and sneakers from his collection of rare Air Jordans.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026
To get through the front door, they had to move several boxes of framed newspaper articles, photos, and other circus memorabilia to the side.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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.
