bibliophile

American  

[bib-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil] / ˈbɪb li əˌfaɪl, -fɪl /

Also bibliophilist

noun

1. a person who loves or collects books, especially as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like.

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bibliophile British  

/ ˈbɪblɪəˌfaɪl, ˈbɪblɪəfɪl, ˌbɪblɪˈɒfəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a person who collects or is fond of books

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Other Word Forms

• bibliophilic adjective
• bibliophilism noun
• bibliophilistic adjective
• bibliophily noun

Etymology

Origin of bibliophile

First recorded in 1815–25; biblio- + -phile

Example Sentences

Best known for his diaries, the tailor's son was also a bibliophile who bequeathed his large library to the University of Cambridge's Magdalene College.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2024

On May 25, 1926, the New York Public Library announced that it had acquired the celebrated Afro-Latino bibliophile Arturo Schomburg’s collection of more than 4,000 books, manuscripts and other artifacts.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

He was a Christian Zionist and bibliophile, who by all accounts knew the land of Israel better than many of the Jews who lived there.

From Salon • Oct. 28, 2023

Corcoran was a bibliophile who didn’t horde books but who delighted in knowing what she could about those within her sphere of Modern art interests and making them available to others.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2022

An enthusiastic bibliophile, he became a trustee of the British Museum, and acted for a term as president of the Library Association.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various