Keepsake
noun /ˈkiːp.seɪk/ — A small object kept as a reminder of someone
Definition
A small article kept as a reminder of the person who gave it or the occasion it represents — not necessarily valuable, but carrying personal significance that makes it irreplaceable.
Beyond the definition
Value that cannot be transferred. A keepsake is worthless to everyone except the person who holds it — which is the most specific kind of value there is.
Origin & history
From 'keep' + 'sake' (purpose, cause). A thing kept for the sake of remembering — the object as the reason to remember.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She carried the button as a keepsake — it meant nothing to anyone who asked, and everything to her.
The box contained decades of keepsakes — theatre programmes, a child's drawing, the cork from a particular bottle.
Keepsakes require someone to keep them. Once the keeper is gone, the object is merely old.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Keepsake” when the meaning fits your context: A small article kept as a reminder of the person who gave it or the occasion it represents — not necessarily valuable, but carrying personal significance that makes it irreplaceable.
Synonyms
memento, souvenir, token, remembrance, reminder
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Wistful Adult Looking at Keepsakes
An adult examines a small scarf and worn toy from their childhood, kept inside a memory tin.
The scarf and toy are kept specifically for their personal reminder value, fulfilling the role of an irreplaceable keepsake representing a person or occasion.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Keepsake" mean?
Keepsake is noun meaning: A small object kept as a reminder of someone. A small article kept as a reminder of the person who gave it or the occasion it represents — not necessarily valuable, but carrying personal significance that makes it irreplaceable.
Where does the word "Keepsake" come from?
From 'keep' + 'sake' (purpose, cause). A thing kept for the sake of remembering — the object as the reason to remember.