keepsake

noun

keep·​sake ˈkēp-ˌsāk 

: something kept or given to be kept as a memento

Synonyms of keepsake

• reminder
• memorial
• souvenir

Examples of keepsake in a Sentence

We were given books as keepsakes of the trip.

saved the tassel from her mortarboard as a keepsake of her high school graduation

Recent Examples on the Web

Leo tells me, surveying the horrific damage that people ask him to dig in the mud for their photos, their keepsakes, not their TVs or appliances. — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

Aldrin kept the nylon tab portion of the cloth as a keepsake. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Olivia Martin, an interior designer at Berberorugs, recommends tossing or storing these keepsakes elsewhere, like in a photo album or scrapbook. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 July 2026

At the entrance was a white table covered with keepsakes and ornamental photo frames. — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

keep entry 1 + -sake (as in namesake)

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for keepsake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

keepsake

noun

keep·​sake ˈkēp-ˌsāk 

: something kept or given to be kept in memory of a person, place, or happening