tabloid

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

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

tabloidism

3 of 3

noun (2)

tab·​loid·​ism -ȯiˌdizəm 

plural -s

: the journalistic style and characteristics of a tabloid newspaper

to astound the world with the new is the very essence of tabloidism

—Oscar Cargill

Examples of tabloid in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She is used to seeing her name in the tabloids.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And the escapism of the tabloids is something that is, in a way, very soothing for people. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026

Speaking about the tumultuous relationship on a 2024 episode of SiriusXM's This Life of Mine with James Corden, Miller reflected on the boiling point between the scandalous affair and the chaos of the paparazzi and tabloids hounding them. —Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026

Adjective

At the time, she was really caught up in the tabloid cycle. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026

And even as the offers have dried up amid a growing anti-trans backlash, Cox’s personal life and family history remain tabloid fodder. —Grace Byron, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from Tabloid, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1901, in the meaning defined above

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