pamphlet

American  

[pam-flit] / ˈpæm flɪt /

noun

• pamphlets
  plural

1. a complete publication of generally less than 80 pages stitched or stapled together and usually having a paper cover.

2. a short treatise or essay, generally a controversial tract, on some subject of contemporary interest.

   a political pamphlet.

---

pamphlet British  

/ ˈpæmflɪt /

noun

1. a brief publication generally having a paper cover; booklet

2. a brief treatise, often on a subject of current interest, published in pamphlet form

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pamphletary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pamphlets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pamphlet

1375–1425; late Middle English pamflet < Anglo-Latin panfletus, pamfletus, syncopated variant of Pamphiletus, diminutive of Medieval Latin Pamphilus, title of a 12th-century Latin comedy. See -et

Explanation

A pamphlet is a little booklet with a soft (usually paper) cover that briefly addresses a particular subject of interest. The word pamphlet comes from Pamphilet, from a Latin love poem that was popular in the 12th century. “Pamphilus,” the original Latin title, means “loved by all.” When the printing press came along in the 15th century, pamphlets became a good way to publicize your ideas — they were relatively cheap and you could print lots of them. They’re still used in political campaigns, and sometimes armies distribute pamphlets when they’re trying to communicate with people across a wide area.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pamphlet pamphlets

A pamphlet from the Central District of California that touted “front-page Federal cases” hung in the window of a court reporting classroom, where students practiced typing 200 words per minute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

This English philosopher, a former resident of the town, is seen by scholars as one of the US Founding Fathers on account of a pamphlet he penned in 1776 that argued for the cause.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

The pamphlet railed against British atrocities, condemned servile loyalism and confidently projected military recovery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

An inflammatory eight-page pamphlet, published in Hamburg in 1602, spread the myth to an ever-wider audience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

I opened the pamphlet and scanned the words.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Family vloggers have more reach on TikTok and Instagram than missionaries will ever get knocking on doors or handing out pamphlets on street corners.

From Salon ● May 10, 2026

Defoe could shape opinion within it, publishing essays and pamphlets as well as reporting secretly to London.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

“He would get political pamphlets for us to read and say, ‘Think for yourself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

On 8 October, a search of his house was carried out, where magazines and pamphlets suggesting an interest in animal rights were found.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025

“With the election underway, we need to make sure that this rebranding is consistent among all platforms. Campaign speeches, social media hashtags, pamphlets, all of it.”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• brochure
• bulletin
• flyer
• folder
• handout
• leaflet
• tract