paperweight

American  

[pey-per-weyt] / ˈpeɪ pərˌweɪt /

noun

• paperweights
  plural

1. a small, heavy object of glass, metal, etc., placed on papers to keep them from scattering.

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paperweight British  

/ ˈpeɪpəˌweɪt /

noun

1. a small heavy object placed on loose papers to prevent them from scattering

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• paperweights
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paperweight

First recorded in 1855–60; paper + weight

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paperweight paperweights

My tongue felt like someone had snuck a paperweight inside it.

From Salon ● Nov. 23, 2025

In the past few years, he sold his valuable paperweight collection, got certified copies of his birth and marriage documents, and researched what it would be like to be Jewish in other countries.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2022

Thomas was also pleased by the hefty price tags on smaller items, such as a paperweight and other desk items, which collectively sold for $8,000.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2022

Now let’s again send the ant on a journey that takes it close to, but not on top of, the paperweight.

From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016

Bod dropped the brooch into his pocket, where it sat beside the heavy glass paperweight, the paintbrush, and the little pot of paint.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

When a promotion affords her a workspace, she cultivates a fixation with paperweights, which help keep her daydreaming grounded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

This gets to the core of the matter: AI is driving runaway demand for processors like those Nvidia makes, but they would be paperweights without memory, so demand there is going bananas, too.

From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026

Conch shells serve as paperweights, bowls, musical instruments and Christmas ornaments.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

If you’d like to accept the award because you enjoy paperweights and feeling like you’ve got one over on your childhood bullies, accept it and then start ignoring their emails.

From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2020

I’ve had several unpleasant dreams where I’m encased in one of Gran’s glass paperweights or trapped beneath the bell jar that houses her arrangement of dried flowers and dead butterflies.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin