textbook

American  

[tekst-book] / ˈtɛkstˌbʊk /

noun

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

• textbookish adjective

Etymology

Origin of textbook

First recorded in 1720–30; text + book

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

Powell, speaking to students at Harvard University, laid out the textbook case for patience: Energy disruptions tend to be short-lived, and monetary policy works too slowly to counteract them in real time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The discovery challenges decades of biology textbook explanations and could influence how researchers approach hair loss and hair regeneration.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

If proven, this behavior is a textbook example of misconduct sanctionable by the bar.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

The whipsaw moves in South Korean stocks last week were textbook examples of a bubble, Bank of America’s equity strategists say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

He lent her the textbook he had studied while attending the University of Glasgow, and she completed her first Greek grammar lesson before breakfast.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• workbook