paperback

noun

pa·​per·​back ˈpā-pər-ˌbak How to pronounce paperback (audio)
Synonyms of paperbacknext
: a book with a flexible paper binding
paperback adjective
or less commonly paperbacked

Examples of paperback in a Sentence

The store sells both paperbacks and hardcovers. The book is sold only in paperback.
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.
The author's young adult paranormal romance trilogy will be re-released in a new paperback box set this fall. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 Being able to pass the time reading without dealing with bulky paperbacks is a major improvement. Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026 His latest biography, Mark Twain, will be released in paperback in June. Time, 12 May 2026 This week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction and nonfiction • The 27 books out in paperback this month • Is satire really dead? Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for paperback

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paperback was in 1843

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Cite this Entry

“Paperback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paperback. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

paperback

noun
pa·​per·​back ˈpä-pər-ˌbak How to pronounce paperback (audio)
: a book with a flexible paper binding
paperback adjective

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