ENGLISH
REFERENCE

paperback

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈpeɪpɝˌbæk// UK //pˈeɪpəbˌæk// pa·per·back
  1. 1 a softcover book (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a book that has a thin, flexible paper cover instead of a stiff one.

    a book bound with a flexible paper or cardstock cover, as opposed to a rigid board binding.

    Example

    I prefer buying paperbacks because they are lighter to carry in my bag.

    Example

    The novel was originally released as a luxury hardback, but the publisher issued a mass-market paperback six months later to reach a wider audience.
    • softback
    • softcover
  2. 2 having a soft cover (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    describes a book that has a flexible paper cover.

    referring to a book format characterized by a flexible paper binding; non-gradable.

    Example

    The bookstore has a large section for paperback novels.

    Example

    The library's paperback collection is frequently updated with the latest contemporary fiction releases.
    • softcover
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 to publish in softcover (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    to print and sell a book in a paperback version.

    to issue or re-release a literary work in a paperback format. Transitive — takes the book title or author as an object.

    Example

    The publisher decided to paperback the biography after it became a bestseller.

    Example

    The decision to paperback the academic series allowed the press to market the titles directly to undergraduate students at a more accessible price point.
Origin

From paper + back, a shortening of the older term paper-backed book.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference