remembrance

American  

[ri-mem-bruhns] / rɪˈmɛm brəns /

noun

remembrances plural

1. a retained mental impression; memory.

   Synonyms:

   reminiscence, recollection

2. the act or fact of remembering.

3. the power or faculty of remembering.

   Synonyms:

   memory

4. the length of time over which recollection or memory extends.

5. the state of being remembered; commemoration.

   to hold someone's name in remembrance.

6. something that serves to bring to mind or keep in mind some place, person, event, etc.; memento.

   Synonyms:

   memorial, token, souvenir, trophy, keepsake

7. a gift given as a token of love or friendship.

   I sent her a small remembrance on Mother's Day.

8. remembrances, greetings; respects.

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remembrance British  

/ rɪˈmɛmbrəns /

noun

1. the act of remembering or state of being remembered

2. something that is remembered; reminiscence

3. a memento or keepsake

4. the extent in time of one's power of recollection

5. 1. the act of honouring some past event, person, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a remembrance service

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonremembrance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• remembrances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of remembrance

1300–50; Middle English < Old French; see remember, -ance

Explanation

Remembrance is when someone remembers things — your grandfather might have uncanny remembrance of his childhood, for example. The noun remembrance is really just another way to say "memory." It's the process of remembering things that happened in the past. In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character of Ophelia famously says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." The smell of the herb has actually been shown to improve memory, and has historically been a symbol of remembrance. Early uses of remembrance had the meaning "keepsake or souvenir."

Example Sentences

The bronze statue, which depicts a girl seated next to an empty chair, was given to New Zealand by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, a non-government group advocating against military sexual slavery.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

In addition, UC Berkeley said it would revamp an online nondiscrimination page to clarify that it considers an antisemitism definition promoted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance when evaluating discrimination complaints.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Some of the fake Facebook posts about Hannelore and Hank were still online on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

A man has been fined £500 after admitting to dressing as a navy admiral without permission at a Remembrance Sunday event.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

On the darkening streets the poppies blossom, for Remembrance Day.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• commemoration
• memento
• memorial
• reminder