me·mo·ri·al
mə-ˈmȯr-ē-əl 
1
: serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative
a memorial plaque
2
: of or relating to memory
1
2
b
: memorandum, note
specifically
: a legal abstract
c
: a statement of facts addressed to a government and often accompanied by a petition or remonstrance
Examples of memorial in a Sentence
Adjective
a memorial plaque on the bridge for a diver who died in the line of duty
Noun
the Vietnam War Memorial is a starkly beautiful testimonial to the bravery of the soldiers who served in Vietnam
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Even Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) returns for the memorial service.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Rose Evans
april 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2026
Father Dan Looney, who spoke at Gutierrez’s memorial, said that Gutierrez died shielding one of his nieces.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for memorial
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Adjective
The family of an 18-year-old Hyde Park Academy High School student killed Monday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Dolton are accepting donations for her memorial services.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Even Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) returns for the memorial service.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Twenty-two of those flags were vandalized in March 2025, prompting the department to replace them — and consider a more permanent memorial, the Idaho Statesman reported at the time.
—Rose Evans
april 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2026
Father Dan Looney, who spoke at Gutierrez’s memorial, said that Gutierrez died shielding one of his nieces.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for memorial
Cite this Entry
“Memorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorial. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
memorial
1 of 2 adjective
me·mo·ri·al
mə-ˈmōr-ē-əl
-ˈmȯr-
: serving to preserve the memory of a person or an event
a memorial service
memorial
2 of 2 noun
: something that keeps alive the memory of a person or event
especially
: monument sense 1
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