Paperbacks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A format of literary work that features a soft cover, often at a lower price point than hardbound editions, designed for widespread readership
2. This style of book includes a flexible binding, typically costs less than its hardcover variants, and is aimed at reaching a broader audience
3. Books with covers made from thick paper or cardstock rather than rigid boards, usually sold cheaper than hardcover versions

Etymology: "Paperbacks" is the plural of "paperback," a noun made from "paper" and "back." The compound is a shortening of the older phrase "paper-backed book," meaning a book bound with a flexible paper cover rather than stiff boards. The short form is what stuck, so the cover's material and its thin, pliable spine gave the whole category its name. The plural simply counts the books themselves, so a shelf of paperbacks is a shelf of softcover volumes. The "paper" part is the cover, not the pages, which is why the same word covers a flimsy mass-market novel and a sturdy trade edition alike.

Synonyms: softcovers, novels, books, volumes, editions