paper

1 of 3

noun

pa·​per ˈpā-pər How to pronounce paper (audio)
1
a(1)
: a felted sheet of usually vegetable fibers laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension
(2)
: a similar sheet of other material (such as plastic)
b
: a piece of paper
2
a
: a piece of paper containing a written or printed statement : document
pedigree papers
b
: a piece of paper containing writing or print
c
: a formal written composition often designed for publication and often intended to be read aloud
presented a scholarly paper at the meeting
d
: a piece of written schoolwork
3
: a paper container or wrapper
4
5
: the negotiable notes or instruments of commerce
6
7
: tickets
especially : free passes
8

paper

2 of 3

verb

papered; papering ˈpā-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce paper (audio)

transitive verb

1
archaic : to put down or describe in writing
2
: to fold or enclose in paper
3
: to cover or line with paper
especially : to apply wallpaper to
4
: to fill by giving out free passes
paper the theater for opening night
5
: to cover (an area) with advertising bills, circulars, or posters

intransitive verb

: to hang wallpaper
paperer noun

paper

3 of 3

adjective

1
a
: made of paper, cardboard, or papier-mâché
a paper bag
b
: papery
2
: of or relating to clerical work or written communication
3
: existing only in theory : nominal
a paper blockade
4
: admitted by free passes
a paper audience
5
: finished with a crisp smooth surface similar to that of paper
paper taffeta
Phrases
on paper
1
: in writing
wants these promises on paper
2
: in theory
the plan looks good on paper
3
: figured at face value
on paper the stock was worth nearly a million dollars

Examples of paper in a Sentence

Noun We'll need pens, glue, and some paper. Be sure to print the letter on good paper. He scribbled the number on a scrap of paper. a crumpled piece of paper The border guards asked to see my papers. They published a landmark paper in 1995. The teacher was busy grading papers. She did well on her history paper. Adjective Their accounts showed lots of paper profits, but they went bankrupt anyway. there's a paper boycott of that company's products that nobody seems to be honoring
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
From pen to paper to film, five standout original songs are now on their way to the Oscars. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 In addition to possible violence from adherents of these beliefs, Christians and non-Christians alike should also be concerned about Christian nationalist views on democracy, said Whitehead, who has published several research papers about the movement. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 According to a 2010 paper by Robert Brauneis, an intellectual property law expert at George Washington University, Mildred and Patty started collaborating on children’s songs in 1889, eventually compiling their compositions in a book titled Song Stories for the Kindergarten. Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The discovery seemed so explosive that a Reuters reporter rushed to publish the scoop more than two weeks before the scientific papers were due to come out; two press conferences followed. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 The paper also notes that lab contamination and patient behaviors that are unknown to the researchers could also influence their results. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Take Paypal billionaire Peter Thiel, who famously spent 12 days in New Zealand over the course of five years and came away with a massive property fit for the end of the world and naturalization papers. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Many other nations have moved toward a type of polymer notes, which are a form of plastic which lasts about four times longer than U.S. paper. Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Inflatable chopstick? — and Elaine Welteroth, who gave us a look at hot fashion of SAG Awards past before kicking things off with Ali Wong wearing a black and white number decorated by what looked like a bunch of artisanal paper snowflakes. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Verb
One wall of this room is papered corner to corner with magazine covers and newspaper articles about Benioff. Dara Kerr, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Then roll it lengthwise, into a long log, cut it in half, and put it in the buttered, papered bread pans to rise. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2023 The skin sample, about the size of a fingernail and literally paper thin, is described in a study published on January 10 in the journal Current Biology, along with other fossil findings. Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024 To the left of the hallway, past the dining room and kitchen, on the far side of the building’s hollow center, are the main bedroom and the two children’s rooms, in which the walls have been painted and papered with vibrant images of rainforest scenes. Nick Haramis Ricardo Labougle, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023 The Balata camp, with its power lines sagging between concrete buildings and walls papered with posters of slain fighters, is a living monument to the community’s troubled history. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023 In her sterile room, Ms. Jaouad started to paint and papered her walls in vibrant, sometimes gruesome watercolor. Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023 Its reporter talked to the broker, who said Raphael put serious money into restorations, even papering a bedroom in William Morris wallpaper. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 8 Nov. 2023 Apply peel-and-stick wallpaper to a single wall for a showy accent, or go all in and paper the entire room for a bathroom brimming with personality. Sarah Egge, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2023
Adjective
In the financial world, assets can be divided into two types: paper assets, and non-paper assets. The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Staples, clips and other non-paper materials must be removed. Shirley MacFarland, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022 Some theater owners have told customers that certain sizes are available only in those non-paper options. Erich Schwartzel, WSJ, 31 May 2022 During 2020's surges, Kate O'Neill, a professor in the department of environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley, explained to CNN how non-paper condiment packets are nearly impossible to recycle. Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021 That means choosing cards without any non-paper embellishments like foil or ribbon. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 24 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English papir, from Anglo-French, from Latin papyrus papyrus, paper, from Greek papyros papyrus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near paper

Cite this Entry

“Paper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

paper

1 of 3 noun
pa·​per ˈpā-pər How to pronounce paper (audio)
1
a
: a thin sheet made usually from rags, wood, straw, or bark and used to write or print on, to wrap things in, or to cover walls
b
: a sheet or piece of paper
2
a
: a piece of paper having something written or printed on it
b
: a written composition
3
4

paper

2 of 3 verb
papered; papering ˈpā-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce paper (audio)
: to cover or line with paper and especially wallpaper
paper a room
paperer noun

paper

3 of 3 adjective
1
a
: of, relating to, or made of paper or cardboard
paper carton
paper mills
b
: papery
nuts with paper shells
2
Etymology

Noun

Middle English papir "paper," from early French papier (same meaning), from Latin papyrus "paper, papyrus" — related to papyrus

Legal Definition

paper

noun
pa·​per
1
: a piece of paper containing a written statement: as
a
: a formal written composition or document often intended for publication
the Federalist papers
b
: a document containing a statement of legal status, identity, authority, or ownership
often used in pl. whether applying to one or more items
naturalization papers
this policy, including the endorsements and the attached papersMutual of Omaha
c
: a document (as an answer, motion, or brief) prepared in furtherance of a legal action
any paper after the complaint that is required to be served…must be filed within a reasonable time after serviceFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 5(d)
2
: a document providing evidence of a financial obligation
especially : commercial paper in this entry
accommodation paper
: commercial paper used by one party to accommodate another party
bearer paper
: commercial paper that is freely negotiable by the holder and is made payable to bearer compare order paper in this entry
chattel paper
: paper that sets out both a buyer's obligation to repay and a lender's or a seller's security interest in the goods bought or that contains the provisions of a lease of the goods
commercial paper
: a usually negotiable instrument (as a note, draft, or certificate of deposit) arising out of a commercial transaction
specifically : any of the instruments constituting the obligations of a business organization that are sold as investments
order paper
: commercial paper that is payable to order compare bearer paper in this entry

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