paper

American  

[pey-per] / ˈpeɪ pər /

noun

papers plural

1. a substance made from wood pulp, rags, straw, or other fibrous material, usually in thin sheets, used to bear writing or printing, for wrapping things, etc.

2. a piece, sheet, or leaf of this.

3. something resembling this substance, as papyrus.

4. a written or printed document or the like.

5. stationery; writing paper.

6. a newspaper or journal.

7. an essay, article, or dissertation on a particular topic.

   a paper on early Mayan artifacts.

8. Often papers. a document establishing or verifying identity, status, or the like.

   citizenship papers.

9. negotiable notes, bills, etc., as commercial paper or paper money.

   Only silver, please, no paper.

10. a promissory note.

11. papers,

    1. Nautical. ship's papers.

    2. rolling paper.

12. wallpaper.

13. toilet paper.

14. a sheet or card of paper with pins or needles stuck through it in rows.

15. a set of questions for an examination, an individual set of written answers to them, or any written piece of schoolwork.

16. Slang. a free pass to an entertainment.

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verb (used with object)

papers, present (3rd person singular) papered, past participle, past papering present participle

1. to cover with wallpaper or apply wallpaper to.

   They papered the bedroom last summer.

2. to line or cover with paper.

3. to distribute handbills, posters, etc., throughout.

   to paper a neighborhood with campaign literature.

4. to fold, enclose, or wrap in paper.

5. to supply with paper.

6. Informal. to deluge with documents, especially those requiring one to comply with certain technical procedures, as a means of legal harassment.

   He papered the plaintiff to force a settlement.

7. Slang. to fill (a theater or the like) with spectators by giving away free tickets or passes.

8. Archaic.

   1. to write or set down on paper.

   2. to describe in writing.

verb (used without object)

papers, present (3rd person singular) papered, past participle, past papering present participle

1. to apply wallpaper to walls.

adjective

1. made of paper or paperlike material.

   a paper bag.

2. paperlike; thin, flimsy, or frail.

3. of, relating to, or noting routine clerical duties.

4. pertaining to or carried on by means of letters, articles, books, etc..

   a paper war.

5. written or printed on paper.

6. existing in theory or principle only and not in reality.

   paper profits.

7. indicating the first event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

8. Slang. including many patrons admitted on free passes, as an audience for a theatrical performance.

   It's a paper house tonight.

verb phrase

1. paper over to patch up or attempt to conceal (a difference, disagreement, etc.) so as to preserve a friendship, present a unified opinion, etc..

   to paper over a dispute.

idioms

1. on paper,

   1. in written or printed form.

   2. in theory rather than in practice.

   3. existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design.

      The university building program is still only on paper.

paper British  

/ ˈpeɪpə /

noun

1. a substance made from cellulose fibres derived from rags, wood, etc, often with other additives, and formed into flat thin sheets suitable for writing on, decorating walls, wrapping, etc

2. a single piece of such material, esp if written or printed on

3. (usually plural) documents for establishing the identity of the bearer; credentials

4. Also called: ship's papers.  (plural) official documents relating to the ownership, cargo, etc, of a ship

5. (plural) collected diaries, letters, etc

6. See newspaper wallpaper

7. government See white paper green paper command paper

8. a lecture or short published treatise on a specific subject

9. a short essay, as by a student

10. 1. a set of written examination questions

    2. the student's answers

11. commerce See commercial paper

12. slang theatre a free ticket

13. in theory, as opposed to fact

    it was a good idea on paper, but failed in practice

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adjective

1. made of paper

   paper cups do not last long

2. thin like paper

   paper walls

3. (prenominal) existing only as recorded on paper but not yet in practice

   paper profits

   paper expenditure

4. taking place in writing

   paper battles

verb

1. to cover (walls) with wallpaper

2. (tr) to cover or furnish with paper

3. slang (tr) theatre to fill (a performance) by giving away free tickets (esp in the phrase paper the house )

paper More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing paper

• on paper
• push paper
• walking papers

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• paperer
  noun
• paperless
  adjective
• paperlike
  adjective
• unpapered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• papers
  plural

Participles

• papering
  present
• papered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• paper
  simple
• papers
  simple
• have papered
  perfect
• has papered
  perfect
• am papering
  progressive
• are papering
  progressive
• is papering
  progressive
• have been papering
  perfect progressive
• has been papering
  perfect progressive

Past

• papered
  simple
• had papered
  perfect
• was papering
  progressive
• were papering
  progressive
• had been papering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will paper
  simple
• will have papered
  perfect
• will be papering
  progressive
• will have been papering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of paper

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English papire, from Latin papȳrus papyrus

Explanation

Paper is the thin, flexible material you doodle on during math class. It's also paper that you fold carefully into the shape of an airplane before launching it across the classroom. If you've ever ripped a sheet of paper or crumpled one into a ball, it might be hard to believe that it comes from trees — wood pulp, to be exact. The history of paper is long, dating as far back as the second century BCE in China. Paper can also mean "newspaper," or "essay," and as a verb it means "cover with paper." You might, for example, decide to paper your bedroom walls with colorful pieces of paper.

Example Sentences

She outlined her proposals in a White Paper, In Place of Strife.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

WSJ | Buy Side: Remarkable’s Paper Pure e-ink tablet bridges the digital/analog divide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Sometimes I’ll go to Wax Paper and order the Kai Ryssdal sandwich.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

“Statement of Purpose,” the Federalist Paper, October 1986.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

But on the last Saturday in October, my father made all of us get in the car and drive to the Annual Ballard Paper Mill Harvest-Time Employee Picnic—even my brother.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• card
• note
• pad
• poster
• sheet
• stationery