bookless

adjective

book·​less

ˈbu̇-kləs

1

: without books : having no books

Accidentally or on purpose, the British burned the books as well as the building in the War of 1812. Congress went bookless for a few months until, after much debate, it voted $23,950 to buy most of ex-President Thomas Jefferson's personal library.

—Richard L. Williams, Smithsonian, April 1980

There's a physicality to books that you don't appreciate until they're not there anymore. Don't get me wrong. I'm not stupid. I know that we're heading for a bookless society.

—Will Manley, Booklist, August 2001

Imagine a library that is not only bookless but is not necessarily tied to a building, one that takes its personnel and services to patrons rather than expecting them to come to it.

—Jennifer Howard, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8 May 2011

2

: unlearned, unscholarly

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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