tabloid

4 synonyms and 1 antonym for tabloid, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A newspaper printed at roughly half the size of a broadsheet, typically known for punchy, sensational stories rather than sober reporting.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

sheet

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

tab rag

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

yellow journalism

Antonyms

broadsheet

How to use tabloid

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a tabloid newspaper tabloid headlines tabloid press tabloid journalism

Calling coverage "tabloid" is usually a criticism, implying it is sensationalized or unreliable.

Etymology

Originally a 19th-century trademark for medicine compressed into small tablets (tabl(et) + -oid); the sense later stretched to mean anything condensed, and then specifically to the small, sensational newspaper format.

Full origin of tabloid →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tabloid” mean?

The word “tabloid” means a newspaper printed at roughly half the size of a broadsheet, typically known for punchy, sensational stories rather than sober reporting. In plain terms, a small-format newspaper (or a style of reporting) built around scandal, gossip, and eye-catching headlines rather than in-depth news.

How do you pronounce “tabloid”?

“Tabloid” is pronounced TAB-loyd (/ˈtæbˌlɔɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “tabloid” in a sentence?

Here is “tabloid” used in a sentence: “The tabloid ran the celebrity breakup as its front-page story.”

What part of speech is “tabloid”?

Depending on how it is used, “tabloid” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “tabloid” come from?

The word “tabloid” dates back to around 1800. Originally a 19th-century trademark for medicine compressed into small tablets (tabl(et) + -oid); the sense later stretched to mean anything condensed, and then specifically to the small, sensational newspaper format.

Is “tabloid” a common word?

“Tabloid” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tabloid” have?

“Tabloid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a newspaper printed at roughly half the size of a broadsheet, typically known for punchy, sensational stories rather than sober reporting.

Related words

yellow press

People also searched

sheet tab rag broadsheet

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of tabloid