Agency Dictionary

Paperback

nounPronunciation: /ˈpeɪ.pə.bæk/

In Portuguese: Brochura

Writing & Narrative

What does “Paperback” mean?

A book bound with a flexible paper or cardstock cover rather than rigid boards.

Etymology

English compound from paper and back (the cover or spine of a book), a shortening of the earlier phrase paper-backed book. The compound names an edition bound with a flexible paper cover instead of rigid boards. The form became widely current in the twentieth century with the rise of mass-market publishing.

Usage note

Paperbacks are conventionally divided into mass-market paperbacks (smaller, cheaper) and trade paperbacks (larger, higher-quality). The format made books affordable to wider audiences and transformed publishing economics.

Synonyms

softcover
softback
trade paperback

Word family

paper
hardback

Rhymes with

black
track
pack
crack
snack

Usage examples

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

Concept

Physical Book CulturePhysical book culture is the enduring appreciation, curation, and sensory devotion surrounding traditional printed codices, encompassing paper textures, binding crafts…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

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

Words of the same theme

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