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

“One day I picked up 42 handwritten yellow pages from the previous seven days,” Steve said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2023

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

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