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.
The achievement was even recognized by Guinness World Records, which presented a commemorative plaque to Perseverance's engineering twin on Earth.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
He began with Kenyan utilitarian objects and commemorative sculptures before expanding into whatever captured his attention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
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
When the Treasury announced the plan it was unclear if the coins would have monetary value or would be purely commemorative, but on Wednesday the US Mint said the coins were "also in circulation."
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Inside, the lobby was an intriguing jumble of mahogany and moth-eaten velvet, interspersed with deer heads, calendars from filling stations, and a large collection of Bicentennial commemorative trivets, mounted and hung upon the wall.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
