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

Explanation

You can call a book lover a bibliophile. If you find it impossible to leave a book store without buying at least one book, you might be a bibliophile. A bibliophile usually has a huge collection of books and loves nothing more than browsing in a used book shop or a library. A love of books or a deep knowledge about them makes a person a bibliophile. The earliest use of the word bibliophile was in 1820s France, and it came from the Greek prefix biblio, or "book," and the word philos, or "friend." If you consider books to be your true friends, you are definitely a bibliophile.

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

In 1895, Adam Clark Vroman, an ex-railroad worker, bibliophile and photographer, new to the San Gabriel Valley, partnered with J.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 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

Francesco, a dashing young Italian bibliophile, knew Pablo Picasso and showed the painter Pamela’s pictures at dinner one night at the Bianco apartment.

From Washington Post • Dec. 22, 2022

Yes, this talk of books had become decidedly distasteful to the once enthusiastic bibliophile.

From The Unpublishable Memoirs by Rosenbach, A. S. W.