commemorative

[kuh-mem-uh-rey-tiv, -er-uh-tiv]

adjective

1. serving to commemorate.

   a commemorative monument; a commemorative dinner.

2. (of a coin, medal, or postage stamp) issued to commemorate a historical event, to honor the memory of a personage, etc.

noun

1. anything that commemorates.

Other Word Forms

• commemoratively adverb
• commemorativeness noun
• noncommemorative adjective
• noncommemoratively adverb
• uncommemorative adjective
• uncommemoratively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commemorative¹

First recorded in 1605–15; commemorat(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

No official commemorative events were planned on Thursday under the "50 years of Spain at Liberty" programme, with the government saying it aimed to celebrate the recovery of democracy throughout the year.

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Luckily, the welcoming committee of Swanburne girls was prepared for all the happy tears being shed, and handed each arriving visitor the gift of a commemorative handkerchief.

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Known as the Big Maple Leaf, the coin was one of five commemorative pieces forged by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has also handed out an oversize commemorative coin to colleagues resembling the logo of the Marvel “Punisher” character, who came to embody a general distrust of the U.S. justice system.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the foot of the village's war memorial there is a commemorative plaque in his memory - something that was done across the country for all winners of the VC.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• celebratory