papier-mâché

[ pey-per-muh-shey, -ma-; French pa-pyey-mah-shey ]

noun

1. a substance made of pulped paper or paper pulp mixed with glue and other materials or of layers of paper glued and pressed together, molded when moist to form various articles, and becoming hard and strong when dry.

adjective

1. made of papier-mâché.
2. easily destroyed or discredited; false, pretentious, or illusory:

   a papier-mâché façade of friendship.

papier-mâché

/ ˌpæpjeɪˈmæʃeɪ; papjemɑʃe /

noun

1. a hard strong substance suitable for painting on, made of paper pulp or layers of paper mixed with paste, size, etc, and moulded when moist

adjective

1. made of papier-mâché

Word History and Origins

Origin of papier-mâché¹

1745–55; < French: literally, “chewed paper”

Word History and Origins

Origin of papier-mâché¹

C18: from French, literally: chewed paper

Example Sentences

His papier-mâché characters are either sounding boards or set dressing.

From The Daily Beast

A collection of rock-like papier-mâché sculptures stands across from “Cymbals, Smoke and Scissors.”

From The Daily Beast

An open coffin, anchoring the end of the exhibit, is a stark contrast to all the glitter and papier-mâché.

From The Daily Beast