English Reference

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.”

Synonyms

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

Education

This entry

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

QR code

englishreference.com/q/yearbook

English Reference