Memento
noun /məˈmen.təʊ/ — An object kept as a reminder of a person or event
Definition
An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event — something that makes memory tangible, giving the past a physical form you can hold.
Beyond the definition
Memory made material. A memento is the past's way of refusing to stay entirely past — it gives time a texture you can touch.
Origin & history
From Latin 'memento' (remember!) — the imperative of 'meminisse' (to remember). Literally a command: remember. The word itself is an instruction.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She brought back a pebble from every beach she visited — mementos that filled three bowls on the windowsill.
'Memento mori' — remember you will die — was a medieval practice of keeping objects to acknowledge mortality.
A memento is different from a souvenir: a souvenir proves you were there; a memento keeps someone or something alive for you.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Memento” when the meaning fits your context: An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event — something that makes memory tangible, giving the past a physical form you can hold.
Synonyms
keepsake, souvenir, token, reminder, remembrance
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Childhood Items in Tin
A faded photograph and worn toy sit inside a tin box, acting as physical remnants of a past event.
The objects within the tin act as a memento, giving the past a physical, tangible form that allows the adult to hold and remember a specific time.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Memento" mean?
Memento is noun meaning: An object kept as a reminder of a person or event. An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event — something that makes memory tangible, giving the past a physical form you can hold.
Where does the word "Memento" come from?
From Latin 'memento' (remember!) — the imperative of 'meminisse' (to remember). Literally a command: remember. The word itself is an instruction.