bookish

[book-ish]

adjective

1. given or devoted to reading or study.

2. more acquainted with books than with real life.

3. of or relating to books; literary.

4. stilted; pedantic.

   Synonyms: scholastic, academic

bookish

/ ˈbʊkɪʃ /

adjective

1. fond of reading; studious

2. consisting of or forming opinions or attitudes through reading rather than direct personal experience; academic

   a bookish view of life

3. of or relating to books

   a bookish career in publishing

Other Word Forms

• bookishly adverb
• bookishness noun
• nonbookish adjective
• nonbookishly adverb
• nonbookishness noun
• overbookish adjective
• overbookishly adverb
• overbookishness noun
• unbookish adjective
• unbookishly adverb
• unbookishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bookish¹

First recorded in 1560–70; book + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

From her bookish Ohio upbringing to her early forays into feature writing, her anecdotes sing with the pleasure of a person born to her passion and purpose.

From Los Angeles Times

As a child, Baldwin is marginalized for being too sensitive, too bookish, a “sissy.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” is the kind of warm romance that will make any bookish dreamer swoon, as a thoroughly modern woman with old-fashioned ideas about love experiences her own Austenesque tumble.

From Los Angeles Times

If your stocking was a little lacking in the literary department, there are plenty of bookish delights heading your way in 2025.

From BBC

A solitary, bookish boy whose dreams came true, after a fashion, who proved that movies really can change your life — albeit in ways you can never quite plan on.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brainy 
• studious