bibliophile

American  

[bib-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil] / ˈbɪb li əˌfaɪl, -fɪl /

Also bibliophilist

noun

1. a person who loves or collects books, especially as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like.

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bibliophile British  

/ ˈbɪblɪəˌfaɪl, ˈbɪblɪəfɪl, ˌbɪblɪˈɒfəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a person who collects or is fond of books

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Other Word Forms

• bibliophilic adjective
• bibliophilism noun
• bibliophilistic adjective
• bibliophily noun

Etymology

Origin of bibliophile

First recorded in 1815–25; biblio- + -phile

Explanation

You can call a book lover a bibliophile. If you find it impossible to leave a book store without buying at least one book, you might be a bibliophile. A bibliophile usually has a huge collection of books and loves nothing more than browsing in a used book shop or a library. A love of books or a deep knowledge about them makes a person a bibliophile. The earliest use of the word bibliophile was in 1820s France, and it came from the Greek prefix biblio, or "book," and the word philos, or "friend." If you consider books to be your true friends, you are definitely a bibliophile.

Example Sentences

He was a Christian Zionist and bibliophile, who by all accounts knew the land of Israel better than many of the Jews who lived there.

From Salon • Oct. 28, 2023

As something of a bibliophile, I found cutting pictures out of books appalling, but newspaper work hardens even the most sensitive soul.

From Washington Post • Sep. 22, 2022

Mr Shepherd considers it likely the book was in the safekeeping of bibliophile Harry Elkins Widener.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2022

Like many wayfaring hopefuls, Adam Clark Vroman, an ex-railroad worker, bibliophile and photographer, was lured to California by its sense of possibility.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2022

Yes, this talk of books had become decidedly distasteful to the once enthusiastic bibliophile.

From The Unpublishable Memoirs by Rosenbach, A. S. W.