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

Explanation

Just as the Lincoln Memorial pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln, a memorial is anything that symbolizes or celebrates someone who died. Every gravestone in a cemetery is actually a small memorial. A memorial is a service or statue dedicated to someone who died. A memorial service celebrates the life of the deceased. Something written about the dead person can also be called a memorial, and you could say donating to a dead friend's favorite cause is a memorial to them. If it honors the dead, the word memorial probably fits.

Example Sentences

Following the strike that interrupted the 1981 season, Ripken Sr. phoned Lesch back and asked him to throw batting practice at Memorial Stadium to help the Orioles prepare for the resumption of play.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

One analyst expects tariffs to be ready by Memorial Day.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Gasoline prices have shot up to an average $4.40 a gallon from less than $3 a few months ago — and they might hit $5 by Memorial Day.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Charles and Camilla paid their respects at the 9/11 Memorial and met locals including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a get-together that came just hours after the couple were hosted by President Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

He graduated in May of 1964 as a second lieutenant, and they got married at our home church, Carver Memorial, in July 1965.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Related Words

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