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

But that was no surprise in a notoriously toxic period for British tabloids that subjected female stars (both homegrown and American, like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears) to invasions of privacy and public hounding. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 28 May 2026

National media outlets and the New York tabloids alike were pinning blame for the Cavs’ 22-point collapse in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on James Harden, who both struggled to score and was also picked on, time and again, by Jalen Brunson and the Knicks’ offense. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 26 May 2026

Adjective

Ghirri’s oversize Polaroids, which increased the usual scale of his modest images to roughly tabloid size, were mounted on hefty support columns clad in coir, a jute-like material used for doormats, obviously intended to thwart any suggestion of monumentality. —James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Despite its tabloid past, the $25 million house is, well, quite traditional. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 May 2026

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