What does scrapbook mean?
A scrapbook is a book or album for collecting and displaying keepsakes such as photographs, newspaper clippings, postcards, tickets, cards, and other small mementos. People commonly use scrapbooks to preserve memories of family events, holidays, school activities, travel, or other meaningful experiences. The word can also describe a digital collection of such materials. Figuratively, a scrapbook may refer to a compilation of memories or records connected with a person or historical event. Scrapbooking as an activity often emphasizes creativity, nostalgia, and personal expression, with decorative layouts and preserved fragments of everyday life. Although “album” can occasionally serve as a synonym, a scrapbook specifically suggests an assembled collection of varied keepsakes rather than a conventional photo album alone.
nounA book or album in which photographs, newspaper clippings, tickets, cards, and other keepsakes are collected and displayed. By extension, it can refer to a collection of memories or records associated with a person, event, or period.
- A book or album used to collect and display photographs, clippings, tickets, cards, and other keepsakes.
- A figurative collection of memories, records, or material associated with a person, event, or period.
"She filled her scrapbook with ticket stubs and photographs from the school play."
"The museum created a digital scrapbook from old family photographs and letters."
"The exhibition was accompanied by a scrapbook documenting the band’s early performances."
The standard plural adds “-s.”
"The class displayed its travel scrapbooks at the end-of-year exhibition."
The word “scrapbook” was born from a simple idea: turning the remnants of everyday life into a story worth preserving.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scrapbook come from?
“Scrapbook” is a compound formed in the 19th century from “scrap,” meaning a small piece of discarded or saved material, and “book.” The compound initially referred to a book in which newspaper clippings and other small items were pasted for preservation. Its development reflects the period’s growing practice of compiling personal and historical materials in printed albums.
How scrapbook is actually used
The word is commonly used for both traditional paper albums and modern digital versions. In figurative use, it often conveys nostalgia, personal memory, and an informal, handmade quality.
Easily confused with scrapbook
A scrapbook is intended to hold and display keepsakes or mementos, whereas a notebook is generally designed for written notes.