graph paper

American  

noun

1. paper printed with a pattern of straight or curved lines, especially a grid of small squares, for plotting or drawing graphs and curves.

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graph paper British  

noun

1. paper printed with intersecting lines, usually horizontal and vertical and equally spaced, for drawing graphs, diagrams, etc

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Etymology

Origin of graph paper

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The fear that using AI will “rot the human brain” is akin to the initial reluctance to allow graphing calculators in math classes, with teachers preferring graph paper instead.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

The steel looked like a piece of giant graph paper before it was entombed in the wet concrete.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 31, 2023

In the steepest increase, the prices of the average package of graph paper listed on Amazon jumped from $9.37 last year to $11.69 this year.

From Washington Times • Jul. 20, 2023

Before he installed the plants, he applied for a turf removal rebate from the city by scanning a sheet of graph paper into his computer and using Photoshop.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2023

He got out his leather covered notepad with the graph paper that Mom bought him for Christmas one year, and he started making a list of potential clients, and Mom rubbed his shoulders.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead