What does guestbook mean?
A guestbook is a book or record in which visitors write their names, and sometimes a message, as a sign of attendance. It is especially common in hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, wedding venues, offices, and attractions, where it serves as a practical visitor register and can also provide a record of who was present. In contemporary use, a guestbook may be a physical book, an online form, or a webpage; visitors can enter their details or leave comments through these digital versions. The word carries a practical rather than literary tone, though traditional books can become informal memorabilia that participants sign, read, or refer to later. Its compound structure is transparent: “guest” identifies the people whose names are recorded, while “book” describes the register or collection in which those entries are made. The word is therefore useful for describing both a physical record and its electronic equivalent.
nounA book or record in which visitors write their names, and sometimes a message, to document their attendance. The term is also used for an online form or webpage serving the same function.
- A book in which visitors record their names or leave messages, typically at a hotel, restaurant, event venue, or attraction.
- An online form or webpage where visitors enter their details, leave comments, or sign in electronically.
"Please sign the guestbook and let us know if you enjoyed your stay."
"The hotel keeps a large leather guestbook in the lobby for visitors to sign."
"After the ceremony, guests added their congratulations to the online guestbook."
Use the plural when referring to multiple guestbooks, such as separate books kept at different entrances or for different events.
"The reception desk has guestbooks for visitors who arrive before the main event."
A paper guestbook can outlast the event: a name, a date, and sometimes a message become a small archive of the occasion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does guestbook come from?
The word is a compound of “guest” and “book.” “Guest” entered English from Old Norse gestr, while “book” comes from Old English bōc, and the compound denotes a book kept for recording guests. The two main elements are cognate with related forms such as “host,” “hostel,” and “hotel,” reflecting a shared Germanic and Indo-European ancestry.
How guestbook is actually used
The term is practical and broadly neutral, though it is especially associated with hospitality and formal or semi-formal venues. Physical books are often kept as memorabilia, while digital guestbooks are common for events and online services.
Easily confused with guestbook
A guest list identifies the people who are expected or invited to attend an event, whereas a guestbook records the people who have actually visited, attended, or signed in.