yellow pages

American  

plural noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. a classified telephone directory or section of a directory, listing subscribers by the type of business or service they offer, usually printed on yellow paper.

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Yellow Pages British  

plural noun

1. a classified telephone directory, often printed on yellow paper, that lists subscribers by the business or service provided

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Etymology

Origin of yellow pages

First recorded in 1950–55

Compare meaning

How does yellow-pages compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• white pages vs. yellow pages

Example Sentences

Facebook didn’t buy yellow pages or local newspapers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Once they summon their courage, though, the gravest infraction they can commit starts with leafing through the yellow pages, in search of a nursing home.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2021

It was tied into the advertising it was doing in the yellow pages.

From The Verge • Jun. 8, 2021

It started out as a simple program to track customer calls and marketing budgets, so their dads could figure out whether an ad in the yellow pages or on Google was worth their time.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2019

At the phone, she took out the directory to look up bus companies in the yellow pages.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

Related Words

• phone book