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

An unprecedented number of email leaks have occurred since Maxwell was transferred to the prison, including emails that were published by two British tabloids that led to Prince Andrew being stripped of his Royal titles last month. —Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025

The breakup was chronicled all over the media and tabloids, and full of public displays and musical antics. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025

Adjective

But a story that was once largely tabloid fodder has now moved to the Oval Office. —Philip Elliott, Time, 12 Nov. 2025

And so we’re left with the sight of him flipping through the pages of a tabloid magazine that’s all about him. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 Nov. 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