keepsake

noun

keep·​sake ˈkēp-ˌsāk How to pronounce keepsake (audio)
Synonyms of keepsakenext
: something kept or given to be kept as a memento

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After a Simi Valley family’s home was destroyed in the Sandy fire, Los Angeles firefighters sifted through ash and rubble to recover a treasured wedding ring and other keepsakes. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 The notebook, Rebecca says, will be a permanent keepsake. Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026 Parents frame their baby’s footprints to hang on the wall or tuck into keepsake boxes. Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 18 May 2026 Now, the handmade teddy bear has become a sentimental keepsake for the growing family, marking the beginning of a new chapter — especially after their daughter, Avery, arrived prematurely and faced a long stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for keepsake

Word History

Etymology

keep entry 1 + -sake (as in namesake)

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of keepsake was in 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Keepsake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keepsake. Accessed 26 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

keepsake

noun
keep·​sake ˈkēp-ˌsāk How to pronounce keepsake (audio)
: something kept or given to be kept in memory of a person, place, or happening

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