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.

---

Yellow Pages British  

plural noun

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

---

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

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

From The Verge • Jun. 8, 2021

This teacher of mine said, Oh, you know, there’s Art Diary International, this book that was like a yellow pages of the art world.

From New York Times • Sep. 8, 2020

Later a hand is seen caressing weathered and yellow pages with a star symbol.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2017

Carefully he turned the soft yellow pages of his book, a few delicately tunneled by worms.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• phone book