souvenir

noun

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

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.
Be warned, though: make some extra room in your suitcase for souvenirs, because this little city has a whole lot to offer. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Over the coming days, the owners of Four Seasons Total Landscaping did their patriotic duty and cashed in on their temporary notoriety, selling souvenirs to commemorate the fiasco; to Trump’s detractors, the debacle epitomized the clownish incompetence that had defined his presidency. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 There are examples of your own work mixed in with souvenirs, thrift store finds, things taken from the street. Sarah Douglas, ARTnews.com, 31 Oct. 2024 However, the Pine Tree Flag is already an iconic image, appearing on souvenirs, clothing and many flag poles. USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near souvenir

Cite this Entry

“Souvenir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/souvenir. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!