Agency Dictionary

Hardcover

nounPronunciation: /ˈhɑːdˌkʌv.ər/

In Portuguese: Capa dura

Writing & Narrative

What does “Hardcover” mean?

A book bound with rigid protective boards covered in cloth, heavy paper, or leather.

Etymology

A compound of hard and cover, two common English words. It names a book bound in stiff boards, in contrast with the paperback, bound in flexible paper. The word is the usual one in American English; British English prefers hardback, and binders also say casebound.

Usage note

Used as a noun (a hardcover) and before a noun (the hardcover edition). New titles are often published first in hardcover and later in paperback.

Synonyms

hardback
casebound book
hardbound book

Word family

hardback
hardbound
softcover

Usage examples

Paperback, hardcovers, or e-books, which one is your favorite and why?

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Creative.6 - Suelen VianaJuly 10, 2023Read the edition

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.
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.
Accuracynoun: The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.

Also from these editions: terms

Audiobooknoun: An audio recording of the narration of a book, enabling listening through digital playback devices.
Bilingualadjective: Possessing the ability to speak two languages fluently, or conducted using two distinct linguistic mediums.
Carouselnoun: A multi-slide social media post format that allows users to swipe through a sequential series of images or cards.
E-readernoun: A specialized electronic handheld device designed primarily for reading digital books and periodicals.
Paperbacknoun: A book bound with a flexible paper or cardstock cover rather than rigid boards.
Podcastnoun: A digital audio program distributed over the internet for subscription and on-demand streaming or download.
Shelfnoun: A flat, horizontal surface used for organizing, supporting, and displaying stored books or ornamental objects.
Spoilernoun: Information about the plot, climax, or ending of a narrative that impairs suspense for first-time audiences.
Thrillernoun: A fiction genre characterized by intense suspense, psychological tension, excitement, and anticipation.
Urbanismnoun: The study, discipline, and design practice of planning, organizing, and developing cities and human settlements.
Cosmonautnoun: A space traveler trained and certified by the Russian or Soviet space agency. It is often used figuratively to denote an intrepid explorer venturing into uncharted conceptual or scientific territory.