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 film uses a jazzily Murdochian technique to examine how the whole world has been warped by tabloids. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 JonBenét’s involvement in beauty pageants became fodder for tabloids, suspicion surrounded her parents even after they had been cleared as suspects, and numerous theories developed regarding who killed her. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
When Cyrus flipped her Disney Channel image on its head during her late-teen years, generating tabloid headlines over drug use and scandalous performances, Parton publicly stood by her. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Billy Ray Cyrus, whose daughter, Miley Cyrus, is Parton's goddaughter, paid tribute to Parton in an Instagram post and recalled a tabloid rumor that had bonded them. — Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 25 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tabloid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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