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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The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
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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 artwork, titled "2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor", is a commemorative public art installation in collaboration with artists, producers, and members of the 9/11 community, including victims' families, survivors, and first responders.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
But it will still place the 80-year-old native New Yorker away from the main focus of the day's commemorative events.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
That Premium Lounge is expected to include a second-floor open-air terrace, “continuous food and beverage service,” priority entry and a commemorative gift.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Mr. Magnason was asked to write the words that would appear on a commemorative plaque at the site, which apparently inspired his journey through the past, both his and his country’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The last thing they needed was another quest to find another god who would probably demand his own commemorative T-shirt or Valdezinator.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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.
