papery

adjective

pa·​pery ˈpā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce papery (audio)
: resembling paper in thinness or consistency
papery leaves
papery silk
paperiness noun

Examples of papery in a Sentence

a berry with papery skin the papery wing of a moth
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.
After chilling the garlic bulbs, gently break the garlic cloves apart with your fingers, keeping as much papery skin on the cloves as possible. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2025 Long-lasting summer blooms resemble camellias, with papery white petals surrounding golden stamens. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025 Woven patches have a dry, papery hand feel, in contrast to the glossier finish of contemporary labels. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Oct. 2025 Unlike the papery hives of social wasps, mud dauber wasps build small clusters or tubular structures from mud. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 Or is it made with some papery thin blend that's going to leave you freezing your butt off? Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 16 Nov. 2022 After all, the snipper and gluer of papery things arranges those things in a frame, just like a director — pure mise-en-scène! Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2022 One company, SOFi Paper Products, designed straws that were strong enough to avoid decomposing in liquid and are covered with a food-grade coating to combat the papery taste of other straws. Elliot Lewis, NBC News, 30 July 2022 Also, these mighty machines can somehow squeeze a pale green elixir from even the most papery kale leaves. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of papery was in 1602

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Papery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papery. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

papery

adjective
pa·​pery ˈpā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce papery (audio)
: resembling paper in thinness or firmness
papery leaves
paperiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on papery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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