memorabilia

American  

[mem-er-uh-bil-ee-uh, -bil-yuh] / ˌmɛm ər əˈbɪl i ə, -ˈbɪl jə /

plural noun

memorabile singular

1. mementos; souvenirs.

2. matters or events worthy to be remembered; points worthy of note.

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memorabilia British  

/ ˌmɛmərəˈbɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. memorable events or things

2. objects connected with famous people or events

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

memorabilia memorabile

Since the pop culture festival began in 1970, it has grown into a major event, with thousands of sometimes-costumed fans gathering in San Diego to buy memorabilia, see their idols and celebrate beloved stories.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Since the late 1960s, Saar has transformed washboards, dolls, clocks, family photographs, racist memorabilia and other salvaged materials into emotionally charged assemblages now held in the permanent collections of more than 60 museums.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

There’s military memorabilia all around the office, including an aerial image of the air base at Balad where he worked.

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

Fans wearing Boston Red Sox memorabilia have been trumped by Scotland strips, and walking down the street it feels as though every second person you see is wearing a kilt.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Then everything went amiss when he discovered that his memorabilia had been auctioned off; it was as if he’d lost not just old letters and score sheets, but a part of his inner being.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

And therefore among all modest and honest persons it is thought a shame to offer violence or iniurie to a woman: in which respect Virgil saith, Nullum memorabile nomen fœminea in pœna est.

From Discovery of Witches The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster by Potts, Thomas, fl. 1612-1618

Beyond this, on the left, the base of the famous statue of Domitian has been discovered as described by Statius: "Ipse loci custos, cujus sacrata vorago, Famosusque lacus nomen memorabile servat."

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.

But if he has them not, I shall only exclaim a phrase out of Terence's "Andria": "Hoccine credibile est aut memorabile Tanta vecordia innata cuiquam ut siet, Ut malis gaudeant?"

From Secret Diplomatic History of The Eighteenth Century by Marx, Karl

Related Words

• collectibles