souvenir

noun

sou·​ve·​nir ˈsü-və-ˌnir How to pronounce souvenir (audio)
ˌsü-və-ˈnir
Synonyms of souvenir
: something kept as a reminder (as of a place one has visited)
a souvenir of her travels
a souvenir shop

Synonyms of souvenir

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Examples of souvenir in a Sentence

When I went to the Super Bowl, I kept my ticket stub as a souvenir. kept their love letters as souvenirs of their courtship
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.
But the cumulative impact of small, everyday souvenirs multiplied across millions of stays costs hotels hundreds of millions of dollars globally each year. — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026 Kenley Jansen reacted quickly and got the souvenir ball for Clark in exchange for some swag for the fan. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 Hell and the name stuck, inspiring a range of novelty activities and souvenirs. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 31 July 2026 In El Rosario, the trinkets and souvenirs, the tour-bus parking lots, and even the stable of horses for rent all speak to a symbiosis that has only recently come to be. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for souvenir

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, act of remembering, from Middle French, from (se) souvenir to remember, from Latin subvenire to come up, come to mind — more at subvention

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of souvenir was in 1782

Phrases Containing souvenir

Rhymes for souvenir

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Browse Nearby Words

Soutine
souvenir
souvenir sheet
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Cite this Entry

“Souvenir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/souvenir. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

souvenir

noun
sou·​ve·​nir ˈsü-və-ˌni(ə)r How to pronounce souvenir (audio)
ˌsü-və-ˈni(ə)r
: something that serves as a reminder : memento

More from Merriam-Webster on souvenir

Nglish: Translation of souvenir for Spanish Speakers

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