noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of souvenir
1765–75; < French, noun use of ( se ) souvenir to remember < Latin subvenīre to come to mind, equivalent to sub- sub- + venīre to come
Explanation
A souvenir is a keepsake or a remembrance. A telltale sign that someone has visited Paris is the tiny, metal Eiffel Tower hanging from her keychain as a souvenir. First recorded in 1775 as meaning “a remembrance or memory,” the noun souvenir stems from the French souvenir “to remember, come to mind.” A few years later, it took on the sense of “a token” of an event or experience. A song by Tears for Fears goes, “Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.” Here, souvenir refers to a feeling, but more often it refers to something tangible, like a memento, gift, or trophy.
Vocabulary lists containing souvenir
Inside Out & Back Again
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Bronx Masquerade
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Mardi Gras: Fun
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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.
See Examples For:
He shared a photo of his stuffed souvenir on social media with the caption, “It followed me home.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
On social media, the purpose of these shoppers is clear: grab a quick souvenir or local specialty and take a selfie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Merchandise and souvenir sellers lined the streets at the Azteca on Saturday.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Silva Miner’s husband belongs in the hall of fame for spouses of the souvenir obsessed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Prosper didn’t reply, but let himself be hustled along by Riccio, past the souvenir stands that lined the Riva degli Schiavoni.
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
The Fitzwilliam Museum’s moving “War Craft” exhibition memorializes a unique popular art, rough-hewn from found objects and made by men killing time in the field or, afterward, as souvenirs of survival.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
During the spree thieves took expensive watches, valuable jewellery and souvenirs including sports jerseys.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
It requires custodians at more than 400 sites to review signage, videos and even books and souvenirs, then report back to headquarters.
From Barron's ● May 17, 2026
There were two reusable Path water bottles and a small tote bag with the hotel logo, which double as souvenirs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
The refrigerator was covered in magnetic farm animals and souvenirs from places Glory and her aunt might have traveled to.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
