tabloid

1 of 2

noun

tab·​loid ˈta-ˌblȯid How to pronounce tabloid (audio)
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

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 noun

Examples of tabloid in a Sentence

Noun She is used to seeing her name in the tabloids.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The glamor of awards shows and film sets mixed with the lurid tabloid affairs that lined grocery-store checkouts to create an intoxicating image of the industry. Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 Yearwood recounted how she was blindsided during an interview with a question about an erroneous tabloid story about her. Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 Similar to how the tabloid news organization TMZ created the TMZ Presents documentary series, the content creator is now working on a two-hour documentary about the drama surrounding Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Marc Hershberg, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The British media has long obsessed over Meghan and the couple's decision to quit as front-line royals and move to the U.S. Harry's determination to tame the tabloid press has left him at odds with his family. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024 Fitzgerald accomplished all of this while largely keeping her personal life out of the tabloids. Joan Gaylord, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024 The website, Backpage, got its name from the literal back page of classified ads on the back of the tabloid. Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024 The former senior working royal, who is the author of several children's books and a historical romance, was an obsession of the British tabloids for years before attention turned to Prince William and Prince Harry. USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Among the most prominent cases is that of Jimmy Lai, 76, the founder of now-defunct pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily whose national security trial has been criticized as politically motivated. Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The allegations were obviously made up by you and/or your client to achieve maximum tabloid clickbait value in the hopes of weaponizing these false allegations—along with other lies that permeate the complaint—as leverage to force an unjustified settlement. Meredith Woerner, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 In the vacuum of news about her, however, experts say Mr. Goldsmith’s reality-TV antics may provide a welcome distraction for Britain’s tabloid papers. Mark Landler, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 While an ordinary family would have usually garnered universal sympathy and privacy, the Windsors—probably the most popular, best-selling tabloid subjects aside from the Kardashians—did not. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 The property has become its own source of tabloid drama: Neither party wants to leave, so both have continued to live there while ignoring each other, communicating exclusively via third parties such as friends and assistants. Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The video also poked fun at the tabloid frenzy around their relationship. Ashley Hume, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2024 Jennifer Lopez’s high-profile romances — past and present — have long been headline and tabloid fodder. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 But Taylor's personal life was also tabloid fodder throughout her career. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 Cherniak went on to own comedy clubs in Toronto, hypnotize guests out of their phobias on Maury Povich’s tabloid talk show, and even entertain troops in Afghanistan. Emily Latimer, Longreads, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tabloid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near tabloid

Cite this Entry

“Tabloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabloid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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