paperback

[ pey-per-bak ]

noun

1. a book bound in a flexible paper cover, often a lower-priced edition of a hardcover book.

adjective

1. (of a book) bound in a flexible paper cover:

   a paperback edition of Orwell's novel.

2. of, for, or pertaining to paperbacks:

   a paperback bookstore.

paperback

/ ˈpeɪpəˌbæk /

noun

1. a book or edition with covers made of flexible card, sold relatively cheaply Compare hardback

adjective

1. of or denoting a paperback or publication of paperbacks

verb

1. to publish in paperback

Derived Forms

• ˈpaperˌbacker, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paperback¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; paper + back ¹

Example Sentences

And in just weeks, the paperback version of Harry’s memoir “Spare” will be published, after the hardback sold six million copies and became the fastest selling non-fiction book of all time.

From BBC

By coincidence, the debate happened on the same date as the publication of a new afterword about the Gaza war in the paperback edition of my book War Made Invisible.

From Salon

At the request of Aidan before his death, the small paperback book was published by the McAleese family to be given away for free to people the family felt would benefit from it.

From BBC

The paperback and hardcover versions of the 2016 memoir now occupy the top two spots on the Amazon bestsellers list.

From Los Angeles Times

The book, in paperback and hardcover, currently ranks No. 1 and No. 2 on Amazon's bestseller lists.

From BBC

Related Words

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• booklet
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• copy
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• edition
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• fiction
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• novel
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• publication
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• tome
• volume
• work
• writing