Word
yearbook
Phoneticsyear·book, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈjɪɹˌbʊk/
UK/jˈiəbʊk/
Definitions
01school commemorative book
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a book published by a school at the end of the year with photos of students and records of school events.
n. a publication compiled by the graduating class of a school or college, serving as a photographic and narrative record of the academic year.
“I spent the whole afternoon looking at my old high school yearbook and laughing at our hairstyles.”
“The editorial committee worked tirelessly to ensure that every student organization was represented in the final pages of the senior yearbook.”
Usage
Commonly used as a countable noun in North American educational contexts.
Synonyms
02annual reference book
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. a book published every year that contains facts and information about a particular subject or organization.
n. a reference work published annually that contains current information, statistics, and facts regarding a specific field or entity.
“The statistical yearbook provides all the data on the country's economy for the past twelve months.”
“Scholars often consult the international law yearbook to track the evolution of treaty interpretations and state practice over the preceding year.”
03school subject
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun American English · Informal
n. a class where students learn how to write, design, and produce the school's annual book.
n. an elective course or extracurricular program in which students develop journalistic, design, and project management skills by producing a yearbook.
“She decided to take yearbook this semester because she wanted to practice her photography skills.”
“The school's yearbook program functions as a miniature publishing house, requiring students to meet strict deadlines and manage a production budget.”
Usage
Often used uncountably when referring to the course or activity itself.
Teaching tip
This usage is specific to the North American high school experience where 'Yearbook' is treated as a specific elective subject.
Etymology
From year + book. Compare Saterland Frisian Jierbouk (“yearbook”), West Frisian jierboek (“yearbook”), Dutch jaarboek (“yearbook”), German Low German Johrbook (“yearbook”), German Jahrbuch (“yearbook”), Swedish årsbok (“yearbook”), Faroese árbók (“annal, record, yearbook”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/yearbook