pamphlet
Americannoun
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a complete publication of generally less than 80 pages stitched or stapled together and usually having a paper cover.
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a short treatise or essay, generally a controversial tract, on some subject of contemporary interest.
a political pamphlet.
noun
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a brief publication generally having a paper cover; booklet
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a brief treatise, often on a subject of current interest, published in pamphlet form
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing pamphlet
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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List 9
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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.
Here is more information from the Social Security Administration’s pamphlet on receiving benefits while outside of the U.S.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
In France, this was the theme of the infamous 1942 pamphlet by Lucien Rebatet, “The Ruins.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
He said it was understood based on the 1st Amendment that a political candidate may walk up to a house and knock on the door or drop off a pamphlet.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026
Noting that the pamphlet “is working a powerful change in the minds of many men,” George Washington had it read aloud to the troops besieging Boston.
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
The souvenir pamphlet noted that even a full load of passengers had “no more effect on the movements or the speed than if they were so many flies”—an oddly ungracious allusion.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
