toilet paper

American  

[toi-lit pey-per] / ˈtɔɪ lɪt ˌpeɪ pər /

Also TP,

noun

1. Also called bathroom tissue.  Also called toilet tissue,.  a soft, lightweight, sanitized paper used in bathrooms for personal cleansing after elimination.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to cover a house, a tree, or other structure, usually on someone’s home property, with strips of toilet paper, as a prank.

   Toilet papering the chief of police’s car was a risky choice—you’re going to get fined for littering or trespassing if he catches you.

toilet paper British  

noun

1. thin absorbent paper, often wound in a roll round a cardboard cylinder ( toilet roll ), used for cleaning oneself after defecation or urination

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Etymology

Origin of toilet paper

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Private vehicles distribute everything from water and food to toilet paper and soap, while trucks belonging to the World Central Kitchen NGO trundle through the coastal city.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans found themselves explaining an unexpected obsession with toilet paper.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026

She watched TikTok videos warning expectant mothers to bring their own toilet paper and disinfectant to the hospital and says several relatives had a terrible experience.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

Nobody imagined using Wi-Fi to livestream Thursday Night Football from a multinational tech conglomerate that also overnights toilet paper and garden gnomes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

And everyone else won’t have fancy poster boards with foam letters that make my flimsy piece of newsprint that the teacher gave me look like gray toilet paper.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden