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• yellow pages
  yellow pages

  plural noun

  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
  Yellow Pages

  plural noun

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

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

New York City’s telephone company in 1886 published the first Yellow Pages directory of business phone numbers—creating a nearly friction-free way for merchants and customers to find one another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

In the 90s, he built a website called Zip2 that functioned as an online Yellow Pages.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2025

He was inspired by seeing the starry sky, but the title came as he spotted the Yellow Pages across the room.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

There were photos stashed everywhere, many tucked into the stacks of Yellow Pages phone books in Wally’s bedroom closet, warped and stained from water damage.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2024

I got out the Yellow Pages and looked up cab companies.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• phone book