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

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

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

She opened the star-patterned tissue paper and pulled out a mink jacket.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

Most of it is made from paper and disposable plastic and biodegradable this and that, so we’ll just start using paper towels and tissue paper and spray everything down with Clorox.

From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2025

So expect prices to rise for books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, envelopes, wallpaper, paper packaging for food and gifts, lumber for construction, toilet paper, tissue paper, and more.

From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2025

Smallpox radiated throughout the empire like ink spreading through tissue paper.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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