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

Marianne Joan Elliott-Said found her stage name, Poly Styrene, running her finger through the yellow pages, she says in an on-camera interview circa 1976.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2022

In the 1960s, he started to dine at Chinese restaurants listed on the local yellow pages.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2021

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

From The Verge • Jun. 8, 2021

There is a book in the pocket of the trench coat, a copy of The Comedians by Graham Greene, with yellow pages and tiny print.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• phone book