What does memorabilia mean?
Memorabilia means objects that serve as reminders of people, places, events, or periods, especially souvenirs and collectibles kept for sentimental or historical interest. It commonly appears in phrases such as “sports memorabilia,” “war memorabilia,” and “film memorabilia,” and can refer either to individual objects or to a collection as a whole. The word is plural in form and is normally used with “a piece of” when referring to one item. Although it can suggest valuable or historically interesting objects, memorabilia may also be personal and emotionally significant, such as family photographs, letters, or concert souvenirs. Its Latin origin provides a memorable link between the objects and the act of remembering: memorabilia are literally things kept because they evoke a memory.
plural nounObjects or items kept as reminders of a person, place, event, or period, especially souvenirs or collectibles. The word can also refer to a collection of such items.
- Objects, souvenirs, or collectibles kept as reminders of a person, place, event, or period.
- A collection of such objects considered as a whole.
"The museum displays memorabilia from the early years of space exploration."
"Auction houses specialize in memorabilia connected to famous musicians and athletes."
"Her attic was filled with family memorabilia, including old photographs and handwritten letters."
Memorabilia is conventionally a plural noun and does not have a regular singular form. Use “a piece of memorabilia” for an individual item.
"The display included a piece of memorabilia from the 1969 festival."
Memorabilia began as a Latin plural meaning “things to be remembered,” and still carries that idea: each object preserves a memory.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of memorabilia
The word comes from Latin memorabilia, the neuter plural form of memorabilis, meaning “memorable” or “worthy of remembrance.” English borrowed the Latin plural in the late 16th century, initially in the sense of memorable things or records. Its modern emphasis on souvenirs and collectible objects developed later. The same Latin root appears in English words such as memory, memorial, memorable, and memorize.
How memorabilia is actually used
The word is normally used with items associated with a particular person, event, or cultural period, such as concert memorabilia, military memorabilia, or film memorabilia. It is usually plural in form, and the singular “a memorabilia” is not standard.
Easily confused with memorabilia
Memorabilia are objects or keepsakes associated with events or people, whereas memoranda are written notes or records.