memorabilia
Americanplural noun
singular
memorabile-
mementos; souvenirs.
-
matters or events worthy to be remembered; points worthy of note.
plural noun
-
memorable events or things
-
objects connected with famous people or events
Etymology
Origin of memorabilia
1800–10; noun use of Latin memorābilia things to be remembered, neuter plural of memorābilis memorable
Explanation
The noun memorabilia describes items that remind you of a certain event or time period. Parents who save every drawing and report card their children bring home are collecting memorabilia for the future. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt? That t-shirt is memorabilia. Memorabilia refers to anything that commemorates an event. It shows you were there — you have the t-shirt to prove it. But t-shirts didn't even exist in 1806, the year memorabilia was coined from the Latin word memorare, meaning "to bring to mind." You save memorabilia to help you remember, or jog your memory.
Vocabulary lists containing memorabilia
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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.
O’Connor bought the building in 2016 and, after three years of collecting memorabilia from the cult movie, opened the Outsiders House Museum.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
The Archive Room is painted blue and filled with Disney parks memorabilia he’s collected over the years including his ticket stubs, which are safely stored in a fillable glass lamp.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
Bertino collects fan art and memorabilia such as a “No Soup For You” ball cap and a Nike sneaker model that Jerry wore in one episode.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
But not every piece of signed memorabilia bought will turn out to be legitimate.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
The museum had been a courthouse long ago and was now home to a vast and extraordinary collection of Mardi Gras artifacts and memorabilia.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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.
