Culture & Lifestyle • Psychology

Sentimental value

Sentimental value is the emotional worth a person assigns to an object, place, or experience because of personal memories or relationships rather than market price.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Sentimental value is the emotional worth an individual assigns to an object, place, or experience due to personal memories or relationships, distinct from market price. It commonly applies to family heirlooms, photographs, gifts, and souvenirs. Dictionaries define it as importance arising from sentimental associations and happy memories.

Definition

Sentimental value refers to the importance something has because of emotional associations, especially happy memories or connections to people and life events. It is a concept often discussed in everyday language and in psychology.

Relation to monetary value

Sentimental value is distinct from monetary or market value. An object may be priceless to its owner while having negligible resale value, reflecting the subjective nature of emotional worth.

Examples

Common examples of items with sentimental value include family heirlooms, photographs, gifts from loved ones, childhood toys, and souvenirs. These objects hold meaning due to the memories and relationships they represent.

Use in psychology and philosophy

In psychology and philosophy, sentimental value is examined as a subjective form of value influenced by memory, attachment, and relationships. It is not determined by the object's physical characteristics but by the personal significance attached to it.

Key facts

Sentimental value is based on personal memories, relationships, or associations.
It is distinct from monetary or market value.
Objects with sentimental value can be priceless to one person while having little resale value.
Common examples include family keepsakes, photographs, and gifts from loved ones.

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Canadian context

The concept is widely used in Canadian everyday English, especially when discussing family keepsakes, heirlooms, and personal belongings with emotional significance.

Frequently asked questions

What does sentimental value mean?

It means the emotional worth something has because of personal memories, relationships, or special experiences.

Is sentimental value the same as market value?

No. Market value is financial worth, while sentimental value is emotional worth that may be far higher or lower than the price others would pay.

What are common examples of sentimental value?

Family heirlooms, old photographs, gifts from loved ones, childhood toys, and souvenirs often have sentimental value.

Can something be valuable sentimentally but not financially?

Yes. A low-cost or unusable item can still be deeply meaningful because of the memories attached to it.

Is sentimental value subjective?

Yes. It depends on the individual's experiences and associations, so the same object may matter greatly to one person and little to another.

References

Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimental%20value
Supports: Definition as importance because of a connection with a happy time of life, a special person, etc.
Collins English Dictionary — https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/sentimental-value
Supports: Definition as the value of an article in terms of sentimental associations for a particular person.
Wiktionary — https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sentimental_value
Supports: Notes usage as usually uncountable and defines it as personal value derived from personal memories.
Blog of the APA — https://blog.apaonline.org/2025/04/15/on-sentimental-value/
Supports: Explains sentimental value as distinct from monetary, instrumental, and aesthetic value and emphasizes its subjective, relational nature.
Oreate AI — https://www.oreateai.com/blog/beyond-the-price-tag-unpacking-the-meaning-of-sentimental-value/9522c30cebefdc44d36331de7acf62dc
Supports: Describes sentimental value as feelings and memories rather than finances and gives common examples of meaningful objects.