memento

noun

me·men·to mə-ˈmen-(ˌ)tō

nonstandard

mō-

plural mementos or mementoes

Synonyms of memento next

: something that serves to warn or remind

a museum filled with war mementos—

Libby Lubin

also : souvenir

mementos of their travels

Did you know?

In Latin, memento is the imperative form (meaning it is used as a command) of meminisse, a verb that means “to remember.” (The term memento mori, which refers to a reminder of mortality, translates literally as “remember that you must die,” for example). The history of memento makes it clear where its spelling came from, but because a memento often helps one remember a particular moment, people occasionally spell the term momento. This is typically considered a misspelling, but it appears often enough in edited prose (including the work of such esteemed authors as George Eliot and Dylan Thomas) to have been entered in most dictionaries as an acceptable variant spelling.

Examples of memento in a Sentence

a collection of photographs and mementos It was a memento of our trip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Altars are adorned with photos, mementos, candles, and marigolds to guide the spirits home and celebrate the life and legacy of those who have passed. —

Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 As for sports mementos, Brady is offering up 20 of those items as well. —

Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024 Below, Estrada shares more about the origins of the custom blend experience, the significance of offering guests a tangible memento to bring home and the evolution of the resort’s wine and spirits offerings. —

Jillian Dara, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Because in addition to being a dog bowl, this is also a sealable dog food container, spill-proof water container, and a memento. —

The Editors, Outside Online, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for memento