What does keepsake mean?
A keepsake is something kept because it brings to mind a person, place, event, or meaningful experience. The word is especially common for small objects with sentimental value, such as a gift, a letter, a photograph, a ticket, or an item associated with a journey. It can also be used more broadly for anything preserved as a reminder, including an object connected with a family tradition or personal memory. Unlike a souvenir, which is often associated with travel and purchase, a keepsake may come from anywhere and may have little monetary value. The term is neutral in tone but usually implies affection, remembrance, or nostalgia. It is a useful word when the emphasis is not on the object’s usefulness or price, but on the memories and attachments it preserves.
nounAn object kept as a reminder of a person, place, event, or experience. A keepsake is often a gift or memento with sentimental value.
- An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, event, or experience, especially one with sentimental value.
"She kept the faded ticket from their first concert as a keepsake."
"He gave me a small stone as a keepsake from the beach where they had met."
"The old photograph became a family keepsake and was displayed in the hallway."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"The shop sells handmade keepsakes for travellers."
Some keepsakes are treasured precisely because they are ordinary: a receipt, a key, or a handwritten note can carry more memory than a formal souvenir.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of keepsake
“Keepsake” is a compound formed in the 16th century from “keep” and “sake.” “Keep” comes from Old English cēpan, meaning to retain or preserve, while “sake” comes from Old English sacu, a word related to cause, purpose, or concern. In the compound, the word “sake” was influenced in meaning by an older sense related to cause or reason, so that a “keepsake” is an object kept for the sake of remembrance. Modern usage emphasizes the object’s sentimental role rather than the original sense of purpose.
How keepsake is actually used
Common and neutral in formal and informal contexts. It often suggests an item retained for sentimental rather than practical reasons, although it can also refer to a commemorative object.
Easily confused with keepsake
A souvenir is typically a memento bought while travelling, while a keepsake is defined more broadly by being kept because of its sentimental associations.