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

Princess Diana and the Duchess of York once turned up at the club dressed as policewomen and many romantic relationships were sealed in the dark alcoves, although the tabloids rarely, if ever, found out. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025

When a bona fide literary scandal breaks late on, Baum is certain that people will come to hear of it in a couple of days, via the newspapers and tabloids. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

Adjective

First, despite tabloid headlines about Leto, such noise doesn’t factor into moviegoers’ decisions to buy or not buy a ticket; it could be argued most were not even in the know of the June Air Mail exposé on his alleged behavior. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025

Ironically, within two days, one of the stormtroopers would go down to the pub during lunchtime, and there’d be tabloid people offering five or 10 pounds for any news. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Oct. 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