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
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.
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
International Business Machines showed off a computer and gave out commemorative punch cards in its corporate pavilion, created by visionary industrial designers Charles and Ray Eames.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
Neill Hunter owns Scotcrest in Port Glasgow, which makes commemorative plaques, clan crests and other memorabilia.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
And this year he will have a commemorative coin bearing his image, minted to mark America's 250th birthday.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
She cleared her throat and dabbed her lips with her commemorative handkerchief.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
