CultureJune 16, 2026

memorabilia

/ˌmɛmərəˈbɪliə/

Definition

Objects kept or collected because of their historical interest, especially those associated with famous people, events, or cultural movements.

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin plural of 'memorabile,' meaning 'things worthy of remembrance.' It entered the English language in the 18th century as a way to describe collections of historical or noteworthy mementos.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe personal or rare items related to the band Nirvana, such as instruments and stage clothing, displayed in a museum exhibition. It highlights how these tangible objects help fans connect with the band's history and cultural impact.

What MoPOP has in store after 25 years of celebrating pop culture in Seattle

Read the full article ↗

Seattle Refined

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.