commemorative: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal
Quick answer
What does “commemorative” mean?
Serving to honor and remember a person, event, or occasion, typically by preserving its memory.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Serving to honor and remember a person, event, or occasion, typically by preserving its memory.
1. Intended as a reminder or celebration of something past. 2. An object, such as a coin, stamp, or plaque, produced to mark a special event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Minor spelling preferences in related verb: 'commemorate' (both), but UK publications may show a slight preference for 'commemoration' in official contexts.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: formal, respectful, official.
Frequency
Similar frequency, slightly higher in UK official/ceremonial contexts (e.g., royal events).
Grammar
How to Use “commemorative” in a Sentence
[be] commemorative of + NOUN (event/person)commemorative + NOUN (object/event)issued/struck/minted as a commemorativeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “commemorative” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This plaque commemorates the fallen.
American English
- The holiday commemorates our independence.
adverb
British English
- The event was held commemoratively.
American English
- The statue was placed commemoratively in the town square.
adjective
British English
- They issued a commemorative stamp for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
American English
- We bought a commemorative coin from the mint.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Marketing limited edition products (e.g., commemorative watches).
Academic
Describing historical artifacts or analyses of public memory.
Everyday
Talking about special coins, stamps, or anniversary events.
Technical
In philately (stamp collecting) or numismatics (coin collecting).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commemorative”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “commemorative”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commemorative”
- Using it to describe sad remembrances (e.g., *a commemorative funeral).
- Misspelling as 'comemorative' or 'commemmorative'.
- Using as a verb (*to commemorative).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be for solemn events (e.g., war commemoratives), but the tone is always respectful, not tragic.
Yes, particularly in collecting (e.g., 'I collect Olympic commemoratives').
'Memorial' often implies something (like a statue) for the dead. 'Commemorative' is broader, celebrating any past event or person, often with a produced object.
The key difference is the middle vowel: American /reɪ/ (like 'ray') vs. British /ər.ə/ (schwa sounds). Stress is on the second syllable: kuh-MEM-uh-ray-tiv.
Serving to honor and remember a person, event, or occasion, typically by preserving its memory.
Commemorative is usually formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly; the word itself functions in formal phrases]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMMEMORATE' (to remember) + 'IVE' (having the nature of). It's an 'active remembering' through an object or event.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (we mint, issue, or hold a commemorative).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'commemorative'?