'nonmemorial' originates from English, composed of the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'memorial', which ultimately derives from Latin 'memorialis' (from 'memor', meaning 'mindful').

'memorial' passed from Latin 'memorialis' into Old French and Middle English as 'memorial', and in modern English it combined with the productive negative prefix 'non-' to form 'nonmemorial'.

Initially it would have been understood simply as 'not memorial' (i.e., lacking commemorative purpose); over time the compound has retained that literal sense and is used to describe designs, actions, or statements that deliberately avoid commemoration.