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.

---

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

---

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

Example Sentences

A new memorial plaque is being officially unveiled later on Sunday ahead of the 50th anniversary of the bomb which occurred on St Patrick's Day 1976.

From BBC

After Bill Boyd, who ran my neighborhood hardware store, died recently, his family decided to hold a memorial gathering on the sales floor.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a salty touch, the first thing Kenna does is remove his roadside cross, claiming he hated memorial shrines.

From Los Angeles Times

Kim said “sister dreamer” offers a different vision of what public memorials can be.

From Los Angeles Times

Community members have set up a memorial in front of the school where Hughes coached and taught.

From BBC

Related Words

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