wallpaper

1 of 2

noun

wall·​pa·​per ˈwȯl-ˌpā-pər 

1

: decorative paper for the walls of a room

2

: the background image or set of images displayed on a computer screen

After becoming a member, the user gets to design a homepage with his or her choice of pictures, music, wallpaper, writing, and information making each page unique.

—Fahiym Ratcliffe

wallpaper

2 of 2

verb

wallpapered; wallpapering; wallpapers

transitive verb

: to provide the walls of (a room) with wallpaper

intransitive verb

: to put wallpaper on a wall

Examples of wallpaper in a Sentence

Noun

The wallpaper began to peel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In another bedroom, paint is torn off walls to reveal splatters of floral wallpaper beneath. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026

Placing smaller sections of wallpaper along the borders of an archway or the front of steps on staircases can highlight these unique elements, or bring more personality to builder-grade blank canvas spaces. —Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026

Verb

Even small areas like a powder room can serve as a canvas for playful or dramatic wall treatments, adding a wow factor without overwhelming the budget, while wallpapering only an accent wall makes this look accessible and affordable. —Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026

Add a designer touch by painting the inside of the open cabinet with an accent color, wallpapering behind the shelves, or adding fabric. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for wallpaper

• newspaper
• notepaper
• sandpaper
• skyscraper
• wastepaper
• caper
• paper
• raper
• scraper
• shaper
• taper
• vapor

Kids Definition

wallpaper

noun

wall·​pa·​per

ˈwȯl-ˌpā-pər

: decorative paper for covering the walls of a room

wallpaper verb