tabloid

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

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

tabloidism

3 of 3

noun (2)

tab·​loid·​ism -ȯiˌdizəm How to pronounce tabloidism (audio)
plural -s
: the journalistic style and characteristics of a tabloid newspaper
to astound the world with the new is the very essence of tabloidism—Oscar Cargill

Examples of tabloid in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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
Trump was a real estate tycoon and a fixture in the tabloids. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 And the escapism of the tabloids is something that is, in a way, very soothing for people. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Adjective
Then came the tabloid headlines. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026 Photographers and tabloid reporters circled incessantly — but not on the first day of autumn in 1996. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tabloid

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from Tabloid, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1901, in the meaning defined above

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 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of tabloid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tabloid

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