tabloid

1 of 2

noun

tab·​loid ˈta-ˌblȯid 

1

: a newspaper that is about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper and that contains news in condensed form and much photographic matter

2

: digest, summary

tabloid

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or resembling tabloids

especially : featuring stories of violence, crime, or scandal presented in a sensational manner

tabloid television

2

: compressed or condensed into small scope

tabloid criticism

tabloidism

ˈta-ˌblȯi-ˌdi-zəm 

noun

Examples of tabloid in a Sentence

Noun

She is used to seeing her name in the tabloids.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unfortunately, the paparazzi still supplied tabloids with prying eyes into the star’s personal life, so Lohan left London for good around the end of 2016. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 29 Aug. 2025

The Daily Express, a British tabloid, floated the rumor that the proposal took place at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, just east of Lee’s Summit. —Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Lai, the outspoken founder of the Apple Daily – a tabloid newspaper known for blistering broadsides against the Chinese Communist party – has become a symbol of Beijing’s sweeping national security crackdown on Hong Kong. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025

Smollett has been the subject of tabloid fodder and speculation for years. —Skyler Trepel Published, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from Tabloid, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

tabloid

noun

tab·​loid

ˈtab-ˌlȯid

: a newspaper about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper containing short often sensational news stories and many photographs