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 Then, peruse the shelves for a souvenir to take home. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Free souvenir T-shirt to the first 100 through the door. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 Start by earning a musical education at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum, then mosey over to the Country Music Store for a souvenir to take home or something to wear to the night’s show. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Hotel accommodation, meals, and souvenirs will all cost significantly more than most travelers might expect. David Nikel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 On the way back into downtown Sheridan, stop at the picturesque village of Dayton to grab a hot chocolate and a souvenir at the warm and welcoming Dayton Mercantile. Molly O’Brien, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 To celebrate the rarity (in the cutest way possible), hospitals all across the U.S. gave babies born on the extra day of the month a commemorative souvenir: little frog hats. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The museum also hosts events and has a store where guest can buy souvenirs, books, apparel and memberships to help support it. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 It’s all designed to feel unmistakably Paris—and guests can even purchase the uniforms as souvenirs. Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'souvenir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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

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