English Reference
Idiom idiom

yellow journalism


Journalism which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

That newspaper uses yellow journalism to sell more copies.

CONTEXTUAL

The editor criticized the tabloid for relying on yellow journalism instead of checking the facts before publishing the story.

COMPLEX

By prioritizing scandalous headlines over verified reporting, the publication descended into a form of yellow journalism that damaged its reputation among serious readers.


From the comic The Yellow Kid, published in tabloid newspapers.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    see yellow

    To receive a yellow card.

  2. 02

    wear yellow stockings

    be jealous

  3. 03

    yellow brick road

    A proverbial path to a Promised Land of one's hopes and dreams.

  4. 04

    yellow grease

    Used vegetable oil purposed for use as biodiesel.

  5. 05

    yellow journalist

    A journalist who writes material which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.

  6. 06

    yellow light

    Hesitance to proceed; limited approval or permission to proceed.

  7. 07

    yellow press

    Newspapers which publish sensationalist articles rather than well researched and sober journalism.

  8. 08

    yellow state

    A state of the United States where the Libertarian Party is influential.

Last updated August 10, 2026