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.
At under seven ounces and smaller than a paperback book, portability is another strong suit. Graham Averill, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026 Adapted from Slaveroad, which was issued in paperback in October by Scribner. Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 When my father bought his paperback copies of The Lord of the Rings at the Cornell University bookstore in 1969, the three volumes came with a free poster of the Map of Middle-earth, also illustrated by Remington. Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025 It was also named by Barnes & Noble as one of the best paperbacks of August 2025. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025 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 6 Jan. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on paperback

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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