folder

American  

[fohl-der] / ˈfoʊl dər /

noun

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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of folder

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

Example Sentences

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

“He brings with him, like, a two-inch folder stuffed with handwritten stock reports he had written on minor league bus trips,” Houston said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Regulars had their usual jotted down in shorthand and kept in a folder to be used as soon as they walked in.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

That’s how I took a folder full of past emails and extracted the email addresses of each person who emails me regularly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Esperanza walked up to him a few minutes later, a wide smile on her face and a pale folder clutched in her arms.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• binder
• file
• pocket