tabloid

1 of 2

noun

tab·​loid ˈta-ˌblȯid How to pronounce tabloid (audio)
Synonyms of tabloidnext
1
: a newspaper that is about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper and that contains news in condensed form and much photographic matter
2
: digest, summary

tabloid

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or resembling tabloids
especially : featuring stories of violence, crime, or scandal presented in a sensational manner
tabloid television
2
: compressed or condensed into small scope
tabloid criticism
tabloidism
ˈta-ˌblȯi-ˌdi-zəm How to pronounce tabloid (audio)
noun

Examples of tabloid in a Sentence

Noun She is used to seeing her name in the tabloids.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The spotlight surrounding Mac’s love life intensified, as his relationship piqued the interest of TMZ and other tabloids, along with the watchful eyes of millions of Arianators. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 Their love story became public a couple months later after photos of the couple holding hands were published in various tabloids. — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Set against the height of the early 2000s tabloid era, the film chronicles Kapoor’s fight to clear his name as paparazzi descend on his office, police raid his home, private journals are leaked, and every aspect of his personal life becomes public. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 There may have been little place for critique in his early images of the luxe life, but their satirical edge sharpened over time, hitting a peak in a spoof of tabloid sensationalism in the September, 1962, issue. — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tabloid

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from Tabloid, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tabloid was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

tablita
tabloid
tabloidism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tabloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabloid. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

tabloid

noun
tab·​loid
ˈtab-ˌlȯid
: a newspaper about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper containing short often sensational news stories and many photographs

More from Merriam-Webster on tabloid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tabloid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tabloid

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All