folder

American  

[fohl-der] / ˈfoʊl dər /

noun

folders plural

1. a person or thing that folds.

2. a printed sheet, as a circular or timetable, folded into a number of usually pagelike sections.

3. a folded sheet of light cardboard used to cover or hold papers, letters, etc., as in a file.

4. Computers. directory.

---

folder British  

/ ˈfəʊldə /

noun

1. a binder or file for holding loose papers, etc

2. a folded circular

3. a machine for folding printed sheets

4. a person or thing that folds

5. computing another name for directory

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• folders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of folder

First recorded in 1545–55; fold ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

folder folders

Most airlines have an app you can download in advance to receive alerts and it's also worth checking you're signed up to get texts and that emails don't go into your junk folder.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Clutching under his arm a blue folder stuffed with documents, maps, and cadastral surveys, Balliu said he has been threatened several times for trying to assert his rights.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

A simple way to imagine this is like making two photocopies of a document but accidentally placing both copies into the same folder instead of separating them.

From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026

I have a folder of Latin techno tracks that are specifically with Spanish vocals or Latin percussion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2026

The ghost closed the drawer with his key and handed over a green folder, his ghost hands shaking slightly.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

The lawsuit claims that Liu did not return an Apple-issued work laptop and exploited a “rare, previously unknown” bug to access Apple’s shared network folders while employed at OpenAI.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

Reporting by the BBC has suggested devices can periodically capture screenshots, which are then stored in hidden folders accessible to authorities.

From Barron's ● May 5, 2026

Craig Bellamy takes a seat at his desk and connects his laptop to a projector showing its contents on the opposite wall, the desktop background barely visible behind a maze of files and folders.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026

Hand sanitizer, folders, perfume, a pair of black leggings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

Inside, a rainbow of hanging file folders kept numerous papers in place.

From "George" by Alex Gino

Related Words

• binder
• file
• pocket