What does yearbook mean?
A yearbook is a book issued annually to record and commemorate a particular year. Its best-known use is at schools, colleges, and universities, where it commonly contains photographs of students and staff, lists of activities, achievements, school events, and personal messages. Such books function as a shared record of an institution’s year and often acquire sentimental value as students revisit them later in life. The word can also refer more broadly to an annual reference or commemorative volume produced by a professional, historical, or civic organization. In general use, “yearbook” suggests continuity, institutional memory, and reflection on the events and people associated with a specific year. The compound formation is straightforward: it is a “book” organized around a “year.” The word is useful because it identifies both the publication’s annual basis and its purpose of preserving a record for future readers.
nounA book published annually, especially one produced by a school, college, or other organization to commemorate the preceding year with photographs, names, highlights, and messages. More generally, it can refer to any yearly reference or commemorative volume.
- An annually issued commemorative or informational book, especially a school or institutional volume containing photographs, names, highlights, and messages.
"The yearbook contains photographs from the school year and quotations from graduating students."
"She looked through the old yearbook to find a photograph of her classmates."
"The historical society publishes a yearbook documenting important events each year."
The standard plural adds -s: one yearbook, two yearbooks.
"The school has published yearbooks for more than a century."
A yearbook is a time machine in book form: it preserves a year’s faces, events, and memories before they slip into the past.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yearbook
“Yearbook” is an English compound formed from “year” and “book,” reflecting a book issued for or about a particular year. “Year” traces to Old English ġēara, with relatives in Dutch jaar and German Jahr, while “book” comes from Old English bōc, related to Dutch boek and German Buch. The compound was established by the 19th century for annual volumes, particularly institutional and school publications.
Related word forms
How yearbook is actually used
The term is neutral and widely used in educational and organizational contexts. In British English, “annual” or “school annual” may also be used; “yearbook” is particularly common in American English.