memorial

American  

[muh-mawr-ee-uhl, -mohr-] / məˈmɔr i əl, -ˈmoʊr- /

noun

1. something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.

2. a written statement of facts presented to a sovereign, a legislative body, etc., as the ground of, or expressed in the form of, a petition or remonstrance.

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adjective

1. preserving the memory of a person or thing; commemorative.

   memorial services.

2. of or relating to the memory.

memorial British  

/ mɪˈmɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. serving to preserve the memory of the dead or a past event

2. of or involving memory

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noun

1. something serving as a remembrance

2. a written statement of facts submitted to a government, authority, etc, in conjunction with a petition

3. an informal diplomatic paper

Other Word Forms

• memorially adverb

Etymology

Origin of memorial

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin memoriāle, noun use of neuter of Latin memoriālis for or containing memoranda. See memory, -al ¹

Explanation

Just as the Lincoln Memorial pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln, a memorial is anything that symbolizes or celebrates someone who died. Every gravestone in a cemetery is actually a small memorial. A memorial is a service or statue dedicated to someone who died. A memorial service celebrates the life of the deceased. Something written about the dead person can also be called a memorial, and you could say donating to a dead friend's favorite cause is a memorial to them. If it honors the dead, the word memorial probably fits.

Example Sentences

A crowdfunding page set up to cover funeral and memorial expenses, the search for Vazquez’s dog Coco, medical and other costs offered some heartbreaking details.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

At a memorial service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson, his son Jesse Jr. praised his “consistent prophetic voice.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

A special 5K memorial walk is taking place at 11:00 local time on Sunday in Buncrana to remember the lives lost.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Never mind that this makes no sense, that no human has ever hated something as sweet and totally innocuous as a memorial.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

I've planned several dozen memorial marches; I can do it in my sleep.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

Related Words

• ceremony
• headstone
• mausoleum
• plaque
• remembrance
• statue
• tombstone