phone book

noun

1. telephone book.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone book¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

While living on his mom’s couch, a casting director called after looking his name up in a phone book.

From Los Angeles Times

Keaton said he might have picked his stage name out of a phone book at the start of his career.

From Los Angeles Times

There were photos stashed everywhere, many tucked into the stacks of Yellow Pages phone books in Wally’s bedroom closet, warped and stained from water damage.

From Los Angeles Times

“My phone book is a little graveyard,” he said.

From Seattle Times

“My phone book is a little graveyard,” Skif said one evening, coordinating over the radio his men on another boat mission.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• directory
• telephone book
• yellow pages