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Agency Dictionary

Pamphlet

nounPronunciation: /ˈpæm.flɪt/

In Portuguese: Panfleto

What does “Pamphlet” mean?

A small, unbound printed booklet or leaflet intended for the mass dissemination of political, religious, or philosophical ideas.

Etymology

From Late Middle English pamflet, through Middle French Pamphilet, the popular shortened name for the widely circulated twelfth-century Latin love poem Pamphilus, seu de amore (Pamphilus, or On Love). The copies of this poem circulated in small unbound gatherings, and the protagonist's name became the generic term for such short printed works. The Greek name Pamphilos means beloved by all, from pan (all) and philos (dear, beloved).

Usage note

A pamphlet is typically distinguished from a book by its brevity and unbound format, and historically from a broadside by its multi-page form. The genre has been associated with political, religious, and social controversy since the age of print.

Synonyms

  • leaflet
  • flyer
  • brochure
  • tract

Word family

  • pamphleteer
  • pamphleteering
  • pamphletize

Usage examples

  • Which was dipped into ink and pressed into paper in order to impress letters into lines, lines into paragraphs, and paragraphs into books and pamphlets on a very large scale.” ”If you think about it son, the character is only revealed when you apply pressure to it.

Concept

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun
A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Rebirthnoun
A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Discursiveadjective
Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
paperweightnoun
A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
quotationnoun
A group of words taken verbatim from a published text or speech and repeated by another author.
omissionnoun
The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
Treatisenoun
A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Maximnoun
A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
Stigmanoun
A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
verbatimadjective
In exactly the same words as the original, word for word. Said of a quotation or a transcription that changes nothing.
rhetoricnoun
The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
literary devicenoun
A technique that a writer uses to produce a particular effect or to convey meaning, such as metaphor, irony, repetition, quotation or aphorism.

Also from these editions: terms

Accuracynoun
The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.
Byproductnoun
A secondary, often unexpected result or incidental creation derived from an ongoing process or effort.
Characternoun
A metal block engraved with a letter used in letterpress printing, as well as the intrinsic moral quality and strength of a person.
CPMnoun
An acronym for cost per mille, representing the advertising cost of delivering one thousand audience impressions.
Frequencynoun
The regular rate at which an event occurs or a message is transmitted over a designated period.
Hookahnoun
A traditional water pipe of Middle Eastern origin used for smoking specially prepared flavored tobacco.
Matrixnoun
An enclosing medium, grid, or systemic web of cultural and algorithmic conventions that shapes perceptions.
Paddlenoun
A short, light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, held with both hands to propel and steer a small watercraft.
Singularitynoun
The state, condition, or distinct quality of being singular, remarkable, and uniquely individual.
Tsunaminoun
A series of massive ocean waves caused by sudden displacement of water from undersea earthquakes, or metaphorically a sudden overwhelming influx of events.
Undeniableadjective
Manifestly true, valid, or high in quality to the point where it cannot be disputed, overlooked, or questioned.

Also from these editions: concepts

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Cite this entry

“Pamphlet”. Agency Wiki, Agency Brasil. Published on November 11, 2026. https://www.agencybrasil.com/en/wiki/dictionary/pamphlet