What does "paperback" mean?

1. (a softcover book) a book that has a thin, flexible paper cover instead of a stiff one. 2. (having a soft cover) describes a book that has a flexible paper cover. 3. (to publish in softcover) to print and sell a book in a paperback version.

paperback — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01a softcover book

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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

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

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

“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.”

Synonyms

softbacksoftcover

Antonyms

hardback hardcover

02having a soft cover

A2 · Elementary

adj. describes a book that has a flexible paper cover.

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

“The bookstore has a large section for paperback novels.”

“The library's paperback collection is frequently updated with the latest contemporary fiction releases.”

Synonyms

softcover

Antonyms

hardback

03to publish in softcover

C1 · Advanced Technical

v. to print and sell a book in a paperback version.

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

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

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

Synonyms

publish issue

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

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

NOUN

paperback(A2)