textbook

American  

[tekst-book] / ˈtɛkstˌbʊk /

noun

• textbooks
  plural

1. a book used by students as a standard work for a particular branch of study.

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adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or seemingly suitable for inclusion in a textbook; typical; classic.

   a textbook case.

textbook British  

/ ˈtɛkstˌbʊk /

noun

1. 1. a book used as a standard source of information on a particular subject

   2. ( as modifier )

      a textbook example

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• textbookish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• textbooks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of textbook

First recorded in 1720–30; text + book

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Explanation

A textbook is an informational book that you use specifically for a class at school. Your biology textbook might be so heavy that you dread lugging it to class. Textbooks are manuals written for instruction in a subject, rather than books you might read for fun. Today many students read textbooks in electronic form, rather than as bound hardcovers. Starting around the 19th century (with easy access to printing and standardized education in many parts of the world), textbooks became a common educational tool. Earlier, a textbook was a name for "a book with wide spaces between the lines."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

textbook textbooks

Giancarlo: On my new book, I think readers are going to enjoy it because it’s not meant to be a textbook on crypto.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026

Purely on the most-watched numbers, unemployment at 4.1% and PCE inflation a full percentage point above its target, the Fed’s textbook move now is still to hike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

But, like many luxuries, as they became more popular and more accessible to the masses, the wealthy began pivoting – a textbook example of behaviour known as "counter signalling", Rudolfo says.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

"By revisiting a long-standing textbook explanation with modern tools, our work aims to improve chemistry education and strengthen the conceptual foundations that support chemical innovation."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

Anthony with his nose in his pre-algebra textbook.

From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender

“Students who prefer physical textbooks should absolutely retain the option to purchase them, but students who cannot afford a printed book should have another way to access the materials they need to succeed,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Viktoria Haidai surveys the mangled remains of the printing press, which should have been busy churning out textbooks ready for the new school year.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Barton and his son Tim supplied evidence from Barton’s archive showing the Ten Commandments in early textbooks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Some say customers aren’t exactly paying for innovation, but rather for decades of familiarity on the educator side — along with textbooks that build the calculators into their curricula.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

The main library was like an old-world cathedral, with high ceilings and glossy hardwood tables where we could lay out our textbooks and study in silence.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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Related Words

• workbook

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