keepsake
C1Formal, neutral, sometimes poetic
Definition
Meaning
A small object kept in memory of the person who gave it or the event it represents.
Any object, especially of sentimental value, preserved as a token of remembrance; an item retained for the memories it evokes rather than its utility or monetary worth.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term intrinsically implies positive, fond, or nostalgic remembrance. It denotes a physical object, not an abstract memory. It is a hyponym of 'souvenir', but typically with a more personal, emotional connection, often one-to-one.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Both varieties use the term identically in meaning and register.
Connotations
Slightly more literary or old-fashioned feel in both dialects, though still fully current and understood.
Frequency
Similar, moderate frequency in both. Possibly slightly higher in UK due to a penchant for sentimental and antique-related vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keepsake of [person/event]keepsake from [person/place]keepsake to remember [person/event] byVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable. 'Keepsake' is not commonly used in idiomatic phrases.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for jewellery or personalised gifts (e.g., 'a lasting keepsake').
Academic
Rare, except in historical, literary, or anthropological studies discussing material culture and memory.
Everyday
Common in personal narratives, conversations about family heirlooms, gifts, and memories.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The keepsake box was filled with old letters.
- She gave him a keepsake locket.
American English
- The keepsake album held all their wedding photos.
- He bought a keepsake knife from his trip.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She kept the shell as a keepsake from the beach.
- My grandmother left me this ring as a keepsake.
- Among his few possessions was a small, worn keepsake from his time in the army.
- The intricately carved locket served not merely as jewellery but as a poignant keepsake of a bygone romance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A KEEP + SAKE: You KEEP it for the SAKE of the memory.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OBJECT IS A CONTAINER FOR MEMORY / THE PAST IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT TO BE PRESERVED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'сувенир' (souvenir), which is broader and less personal.
- Do not confuse with 'памятка' (pamjatka), which is a memo or reminder note.
- The closest is 'памятная вещь' (pamjatnaja vešč') or 'на память' (na pamjat').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I keepsaked the ticket' – incorrect).
- Using it for abstract memories (e.g., 'The song is a keepsake' – marginal, usually requires a physical object).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a 'keepsake'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its value is primarily sentimental, not monetary. A cheap pressed penny or a simple stone can be a keepsake.
No, 'keepsake' is exclusively a noun. The verb form does not exist in standard English.
A souvenir is a reminder of a place or event (e.g., a magnet from Paris). A keepsake is more intimate, often a reminder of a specific person or relationship, and implies deeper personal attachment.
It has a slightly old-fashioned, gentle connotation but is still perfectly common and understood in modern English.