feuilleton

noun

feuil·​le·​ton ˌfə-yə-ˈtōⁿ 

ˌfər-,

ˌfœ-

1

: a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader

2

: something (such as an installment of a novel) printed in a feuilleton

3

a

: a novel printed in installments

b

: a work of fiction catering to popular taste

4

: a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content

feuilletonism

ˌfə-yə-ˈtō(ⁿ)-ˌni-zəm 

ˌfər-

ˌfœ-

noun

feuilletonist

ˌfə-yə-ˈtō(ⁿ)-nist 

ˌfər-

ˌfœ-

noun

Did you know?

The feuilleton originated in French newspapers as a supplement sectioned out from the main news stories. Although found in the political section of the newspaper, the feuilleton typically included material on non-political subjects, such as art, literature, or fashion. Fiction was sometimes included as well. The word is a diminutive of the French feuillet, meaning "sheet of paper," and ultimately derives from Latin folium, meaning "leaf." From this source English acquired "folio" (which can refer to a page, or leaf, of a book or manuscript) and "foliage" (meaning "a mass of leaves").

Examples of feuilleton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From the earliest days of The New Yorker—indeed, from its very first issue, which was dated February 21, 1925—the magazine’s reportage, criticism, and feuilleton have been paired with cartoons. —Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2019

The Paris feuilletons were full of adulteries in high society. —Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019

At the heart of the famously archconservative FAZ is the feuilleton page, where Germany's intellectuals have long debated obscure points of 19th-century philosophy, the German soul, and the cultural legacy of Christendom. —Misha Glenny, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2001

Word History

Etymology

French, from feuillet sheet of paper, from Old French foillet, diminutive of foille leaf — more at foil entry 2

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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