papier-mâché

American  

[pey-per-muh-shey, -ma-, pa-pyey-mah-shey] / ˌpeɪ pər məˈʃeɪ, -mæ-, pa pyeɪ mɑˈʃeɪ /

Also paper-mâché

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.

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adjective

1. made of papier-mâché.

2. easily destroyed or discredited; false, pretentious, or illusory.

   a papier-mâché façade of friendship.

papier-mâché British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. made of papier-mâché

Etymology

Origin of papier-mâché

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

Example Sentences

“The glue doesn’t stick. I’ve been doing papier-mâché for weeks.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

One of the most famous involved Frank Morris, and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, who escaped in June 1962 by placing papier-mâché heads in their beds and breaking out through ventilation ducts.

From BBC • May 10, 2025

Above us were giant papier-mâché heads of alebrijes — colorful Mexican folk art figurines — used at LA Librería’s recent appearance at the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

The tables featured papier-mâché vases, dahlias she’d grown herself and a few buckets of flowers from Little Jack Flower Farm in Snohomish.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

She tried to imagine some use Wash might have for papier-mâché body parts, but nothing came to mind.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez