leaflet

American  

[leef-lit] / ˈlif lɪt /

noun

1. a small flat or folded sheet of printed matter, as an advertisement or notice, usually intended for free distribution.

2. one of the separate blades or divisions of a compound leaf.

3. a small leaflike part or structure.

4. a small or young leaf.

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verb (used with object)

leafleted, leafletted, leafleting, leafletting

1. to distribute leaflets or handbills to or among.

   Campaign workers leafleted shoppers at the mall.

verb (used without object)

leafleted, leafletted, leafleting, leafletting

1. to distribute leaflets.

leaflet British  

/ ˈliːflɪt /

noun

1. a printed and usually folded sheet of paper for distribution, usually free and containing advertising material or information about a political party, charity, etc

2. any of the subdivisions of a compound leaf such as a fern leaf

3. (loosely) any small leaf or leaflike part

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verb

1. to distribute printed leaflets (to)

   they leafleted every flat in the area

leaflet Scientific  

/ lē′flĭt /

1. A small leaf or leaflike part, especially one of the blades or divisions of a compound leaf.

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Other Word Forms

• leafleter
  noun
• leafletter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of leaflet

First recorded in 1780–90; leaf + -let

Explanation

A paper advertisement or a folded brochure is called a leaflet. To spread the word that your band is playing tonight, you could hand out leaflets. Most leaflets are free, part of their purpose being to attract an audience or customers, or to spread specific information or propaganda. You can also use this word to mean "small section of a leaf," particularly on a "compound leaf," which is made up of several leaflets, like the leaf of the ash tree. This botanical meaning is the original one — the "pamphlet" meaning arose in the 1800s, from leaf, or "page of a book."

Example Sentences

The Leaflet library for R is a set of easy-to-use tools for visualizing geospatial data.

From Nature • Jun. 4, 2018

Leaflet bombing of Japan has been stepped up sharply since V-E day.

From Time Magazine Archive

The following diagram from United States Food Leaflet No. 11 shows that milk is especially rich in lime.

From School and Home Cooking by Greer, Carlotta Cherryholmes

Leaflet, one of the divisions or blades of a compound leaf, 57.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

A similar story is told of Fishguard in South Wales in Legend Land Leaflet No. 11.

From Legend Land, Volume 2 Being a Collection of Some of The Old Tales Told in Those Western Parts of Britain Served by The Great Western Railway by Barham, George Basil

Related Words

• advertisement
• brochure
• bulletin
• flyer
• pamphlet