cardboard

American  

[kahrd-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈkɑrdˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

1. a thin, stiff pasteboard, used for signs, boxes, etc.

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adjective

1. resembling cardboard, especially in flimsiness.

   an apartment with cardboard walls.

2. not fully lifelike; shallow; two-dimensional.

   a play with cardboard characters.

cardboard British  

/ ˈkɑːdˌbɔːd /

noun

1. 1. a thin stiff board made from paper pulp and used esp for making cartons

   2. ( as modifier )

      cardboard boxes

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adjective

1. (prenominal) without substance

   a cardboard smile

   a cardboard general

Etymology

Origin of cardboard

First recorded in 1840–50; card ¹ + board

Explanation

The heavy, rigid paper that's used to make the boxes you use for mailing things is called cardboard. Cardboard also comes in handy for crafts and projects in classrooms. A lot of cardboard is made from several layers of thick paper, so that it's stiff and strong, and protects items inside cardboard boxes. You can also use the word cardboard to describe a fictional character who doesn't seem real: "The mother in the movie was such a cardboard character." In the 18th century, cardboard was known as card paper.

Example Sentences

Gavilan collects cardboard and scrap metal for a living but it no longer puts food on the table.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Standing in her kitchen, Nicole Fontanez let out a gasp as she cut open a cardboard box, revealing a plastic figure of Yoshi, Mario’s dinosaur-like friend.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Photos of the event show a grey convention centre space with pink cardboard cut-out Barbie signs.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

In reality, my dad’s will was in a cardboard box next to the Christmas decorations.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Next to her, every other kid he’d ever known might as well be a cardboard cutout.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• badge
• calendar
• check
• label
• poster
• program
• sheet
• ticket