paperboy

American

[pey-per-boi] / ˈpeɪ pərˌbɔɪ /

noun

a youth or man who sells newspapers on the street or delivers them to homes; newsboy.

paperboy British

/ ˈpeɪpəˌbɔɪ /

noun

a boy employed to deliver newspapers, magazines, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

papergirl

noun

Etymology

Origin of paperboy

First recorded in 1875–80; paper + boy

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.

Colin was a farm worker and lorry driver before becoming a paperboy a decade ago.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

A paperboy pulls a wagon that shoots today’s news out of pneumatic cannons.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

To help support his passions, Leonard worked multiple odd jobs, including teriyaki delivery person, window washer, paperboy, glass cutter and climbing guide.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2022

Young McLean was a paperboy - “every paper I’d deliver” - and adored Elvis, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley but especially Holly, whose death deeply affected him.

From Washington Times • Jul. 18, 2022

The coin made its way to two retired teachers and then to the paperboy, Jimmy Bozart.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023