First recorded in 1945–50; apparently so called from the color of the paper on which they are printed
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The government was adamant that its "welfare reform" changes - announced in March's Green Paper - were designed to get people back to work.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025
The role of the UK's creative industries, which also includes theatre, architecture, broadcasting, fashion, museums, and galleries was recognised when the government unveiled its industrial strategy Green Paper in January for boosting the post-Brexit economy.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2017
He told the Conservative Party conference that more than 80,000 people have responded to the Government's Green Paper on the future of the BBC.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2015
Mr Whittingdale has launched a Green Paper on the corporation's future, saying he wanted the corporation to "thrive".
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2015
That office promulgated first a Green Paper and then, after further hearings, a White Paper, on "Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure."
From The Public Domain Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by Boyle, James
It has published a consultation document - or green paper - laying out plans to future-proof the BBC, put it on a sustainable financial footing and bolster trust.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
Huang speculates that might be because a green paper may appear in multiple repositories—institutional and discipline-based—whereas gold papers tend to appear in only one, the publishers’ website.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 24, 2024
Trees and shrubbery made from green paper littered the rig, particularly on the helipad, where a farm thrived under a transparent cellophane biodome.
From Slate ● Dec. 16, 2023
People write their hopes on green paper leaves.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2022
The flyer was on the same bright green paper as the entry form had been.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
