wallpaper

1 of 2

noun

1
: decorative paper for the walls of a room
2
: the background image or set of images displayed on a computer screen
After becoming a member, the user gets to design a homepage with his or her choice of pictures, music, wallpaper, writing, and information making each page unique.—Fahiym Ratcliffe

wallpaper

2 of 2

verb

wallpapered; wallpapering; wallpapers

transitive verb

: to provide the walls of (a room) with wallpaper

intransitive verb

: to put wallpaper on a wall

Examples of wallpaper in a Sentence

Noun The wallpaper began to peel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Instead, remove wallpaper using a steamer, commercial wallpaper remover, or DIY liquid remover. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026 The interiors mix traditional details with more modern, glamorous touches, including oak floors, custom wallpaper, and lighting by Armani, Ralph Pucci, and Allison Berger. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
Much of the decor centers around herons, like a bird wallpapered at the checkout desk and even the store’s mascot, Artie, who’s become an important symbol for the two owners. — Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 But the bathroom is stylishly 1940s with black and yellow tile, striped wallpaper, chrome fixtures, and some modest, period-appropriate updates, and there’s more style in the entry hall, wallpapered with storks on a red background. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wallpaper

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wallpaper was in 1827

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Cite this Entry

“Wallpaper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wallpaper. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

wallpaper

noun
wall·​pa·​per
ˈwȯl-ˌpā-pər
: decorative paper for covering the walls of a room
wallpaper verb

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