Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

ex libris

noun
Save Word
ex li·​bris | \ eks-ˈlē-brəs How to pronounce ex libris (audio) , -ˌbrēs \
plural ex libris

Definition of ex libris

: a book owner's identification label that is usually pasted to the inside front cover of a book : bookplate On the inside of the covers appears that plate with the fat chicken wearing glasses, hatching a closed book. Yehiel explained to me that that was his father's ex libris …— Meir Shalev

First Known Use of ex libris

1880, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ex libris

New Latin, from the books; used before the owner's name on bookplates

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about ex libris

Time Traveler for ex libris

Time Traveler

The first known use of ex libris was in 1880

See more words from the same year

Statistics for ex libris

Cite this Entry

“Ex libris.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ex%20libris. Accessed 24 January 2020.

More from Merriam-Webster on ex libris

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with ex libris

Comments on ex libris

What made you want to look up ex libris? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

euphoria

Listen to the pronounciation of euphoria

a feeling of well-being or elation

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Intact Latin Quiz

  • roman tablet
  • What did focus mean in Latin?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games