Example:
They built him a [...] to commemorate his achievements and contributions to society.
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2Well, a "monument" is something built to commemorate or honor some person or event or whatever, but it's not necessarily a statue. "Memorial" generally honors a person or group of people but similarly is not necessary a statue.– Hot LicksCommented Feb 6, 2015 at 1:49
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Eg, in Washington DC are the "Washington Monument", an obelisk honoring George Washington, and the "Lincoln Memorial", a pavilion containing a statue of the sitting Abraham Lincoln.– Hot LicksCommented Feb 6, 2015 at 1:51
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(And I hear those British guys have one or two monuments/memorials as well.)– Hot LicksCommented Feb 6, 2015 at 1:52
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1A memorial commemorates someone who is dead (or a group of people of whom at least some are dead).– Erik KowalCommented Feb 6, 2015 at 2:03
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I'm having trouble with the They built him a [...] part of your question. The implication is that the object was presented and/or given to him personally, rather than being erected as a public commemoration or celebration of his achievements. This would be unusual — normally, when a living person's achievements are celebrated, it takes the form of a certificate, award or prize, or if it is a public monument, it may even be unveiled at a ceremony in which the honoree is present; but it is not normally constructed or erected for the person in question, nor is it given to them.– Erik KowalCommented Feb 6, 2015 at 2:15
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3 Answers
Usually you'd call it a monument.
Monuments and memorials usually do not depict the person, unlike a statue.
I would write:
They built a statue of him to commemorate his achievements and contributions to society.
or:
They built a memorial to him to commemorate his achievements and contributions to society.
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Exactly. Call it a statue if it's a statue, and a monument or memorial if it's not. Commented Feb 6, 2015 at 8:43
If they're dead and it's at the site of their burial, it may also be called a tomb effigy or a gisant.
