Paperback: meaning, definitions and examples
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paperback
[ ˈpeɪpərbæk ]
book format
A book with flexible card or paper covers and typically held together with glue rather than stitches or staples.
Synonyms
pocket book, softcover, trade paperback
Examples of usage
- It's more convenient to carry a paperback in your bag than a hardcover book.
- She prefers reading paperbacks over e-books.
- Paperbacks are usually cheaper than hardcover books.
- The store has a large selection of paperbacks.
- I always buy paperbacks when I travel.
price
A book that is printed and bound cheaply, often in a smaller size than the original hardcover edition.
Synonyms
cheap edition, mass-market paperback
Examples of usage
- I bought the paperback version because it was more affordable.
- The paperback edition of the novel came out a few months after the hardcover.
Translations
Translations of the word "paperback" in other languages:
🇵🇹 livro de bolso
🇮🇳 पेपरबैक
🇩🇪 Taschenbuch
🇮🇩 buku saku
🇺🇦 м'яка обкладинка
🇵🇱 książka w miękkiej oprawie
🇯🇵 ペーパーバック
🇫🇷 livre de poche
🇪🇸 libro de bolsillo
🇹🇷 cep kitabı
🇰🇷 페이퍼백
🇸🇦 كتاب بغلاف ورقي
🇨🇿 brožura
🇸🇰 brožovaná kniha
🇨🇳 平装书
🇸🇮 mehka vezava
🇮🇸 pappírband
🇰🇿 жұқа мұқабалы кітап
🇬🇪 რბილი ყდით წიგნი
🇦🇿 yumşaq cildli kitab
🇲🇽 libro de bolsillo
Word origin
The term 'paperback' originated in the 19th century when publishers started producing books with flexible paper-based covers instead of hardback bindings. These affordable editions made literature more accessible to a wider audience, contributing to the popularization of reading. Over time, paperbacks became a staple in the publishing industry, offering readers a convenient and economical way to enjoy books.
See also: paperclip, paperclips, papers, paperwork.