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 Words From

• com·memo·rative·ly adverb
• com·memo·rative·ness noun
• noncom·memo·rative adjective
• noncom·memo·rative·ly adverb
• uncom·memo·rative adjective
• uncom·memo·rative·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commemorative¹

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

Example Sentences

Even if Draghi succeeds, he won’t be celebrated with a commemorative victory column—but this Roman could yet leave his own lasting mark on history.

From MIT Technology Review

New Horizons carries no such elaborate commemorative marker—though the spacecraft itself serves as its own identifier, an object that had to come from the minds and hands of an intelligent civilization.

From Time

The theme of this online commemorative event is “United” with a goal of healing divides while addressing ongoing problems of poverty and inequity.

From Washington Blade

Regardless of which season, though, his most popular items are the bourbon balls made with different brands of the local hooch and official commemorative julep glasses.

From Washington Post

Hello said he plans to contact a management company that DBT Development Group has retained to represent the condo association to advocate for the commemorative plaque.

From Washington Blade

America sure does love its national commemorative months (PDF), especially health-related ones.

From The Daily Beast

Temples could also serve funerary and commemorative functions.

From The Daily Beast

Expect a boatload of commemorative coins, plates, T-shirts, and baby tchotchkes of all sorts to be sold.

From The Daily Beast

It makes you wonder what the riflemen are going to do with their commemorative coins.

From The Daily Beast

According to press reports, they received commemorative coins for their service.

From The Daily Beast

There is also a tombstone in Folkestone churchyard curiously commemorative of this tax.

From Project Gutenberg

For many years the disgraceful commemorative procession was faithfully observed.

From Project Gutenberg

The following two chapters were prepared for special occasions commemorative of typical California life.

From Project Gutenberg

This was the case in a still greater degree in the triumphal and commemorative arches.

From Project Gutenberg

There the first object which met our sight was the little cairn, already mentioned, commemorative of Lieutenant Sholl.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• celebratory