tissue paper

American

noun

a very thin, almost transparent paper used for wrapping delicate articles, covering illustrations in books, copying letters, etc.

tissue paper British

noun

very thin soft delicate paper used to wrap breakable goods, as decoration, 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

Etymology

Origin of tissue paper

First recorded in 1770–80

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.

See Examples For:

tissue paper

Kimberly-Clark rose after the maker of Huggies diapers, Kleenex tissue paper among other consumer products reiterated growth forecasts for the year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

He knows politicians use him "like tissue paper", but is still grateful for the cash.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

A state prosecutor told the court on Wednesday that Zhang had packed some ants in test tubes, while others were concealed in tissue paper rolls hidden in his luggage.

From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026

Bamboo-based tissue paper from China has become a popular option among consumers seeking eco-friendly products.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2025

The tissue paper cutouts boasted little elephants, pigs, cows, snakes, and roosters.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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