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.
This year’s top hardcover sellers include those two books as well as “Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic,” a memoir by podcaster and entrepreneur Bunnie Xo, according to Circana.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
But what I think is more notable is how I do it: I read only hardcover or paperback books.
From Slate • Mar. 8, 2026
Comedian Nate Bargatze’s story collection “Big Dumb Eyes” made its debut at No. 1 on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction list when it was published in May.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025
Some books read like hardcover screenplays, so easily translated to the movies that publishing them first as a novel almost seems like an unnecessary formality.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2025
She pulled a hardcover edition of Bloodfall from her bag and handed it to Gary.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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.
