letterpress

American  

[let-er-pres] / ˈlɛt ərˌprɛs /

noun

1. the process of printing from letters or type in relief, rather than from intaglio plates or planographically.

2. matter printed in such a manner.

3. Chiefly British. printed text or reading matter, as distinguished from illustrations.

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adverb

1. by letterpress.

   The circular should be printed letterpress, not offset.

adjective

1. set in letterpress.

   letterpress work.

letterpress British  

/ ˈlɛtəˌprɛs /

noun

1. 1. a method of printing in which ink is transferred from raised surfaces to paper by pressure; relief printing

   2. matter so printed

2. text matter as distinct from illustrations

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Etymology

Origin of letterpress

First recorded in 1750–60; letter ¹ + press ¹

Example Sentences

We watched him operate a vintage letterpress, the mechanisms whirring and clanking like a steam engine.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

The revenge of the analog—through the popularity of Moleskine notebooks and letterpress cards, through the revival of film cameras among Gen Z—comes down to something more interesting than simple nostalgia.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

"Graphic design has always developed in step with technological change - from letterpress to phototypesetting to desktop publishing and now Gen AI," she said.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

General manager and co-owner Cary Ocon returns to another theme that’s kept what’s now the city’s oldest letterpress print shop running since 1968.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2024

It took me a moment to realize what I was looking at, since the letterpress blocks were arranged as mirror images of the true text.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros