hardcover
Americannoun
adjective
-
bound in cloth, leather, or the like, over stiff material.
a hardcover series.
-
noting or pertaining to hardcover books.
hardcover sales.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hardcover
Compare meaning
How does hardcover compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A hardcover book has stiff, rigid covers on its pages, rather than flexible ones. You might prefer hardcover books at home, but tend to pack paperback copies when you travel, since they weigh less. Hardcover books are the ones that tend to be published first, with firm, sturdy covers protecting the pages. You can also call this type of book a hardback. Paperbacks, commonly published after the hardcover has been out for several months, are floppy, lighter, and cost less to buy. Most library books have a special cover that's called "library binding," but it tends to be rigid like a hardcover.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Whereas when I read a large hardcover, it almost feels like I need a journal to jot down notes about what’s happening.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
“Unlike for mass-market paperbacks, hardcover books were shelved, so it didn’t matter that the books were different sizes,” Margolis says.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
His 2017 biography of Ulysses S. Grant sold 381,604 in hardcover.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Most of the current book sales are for the original paperback edition, though a movie tie-in with Gosling on the cover is also contributing, as are some hardcover volumes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Glory frowned at the hardcover in front of her.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
