tabloid

1 of 2

noun

tab·​loid ˈta-ˌblȯid 

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 

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 complaint was filed Monday, April 27, in New York and first reported in the tabloids, almost immediately stirring up viral discussion online and making further headlines. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Images of her outside the hotel were splashed across tabloids, with The Carlyle’s distinctive gold revolving door in the background. —Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Print the pattern, ensuring the design is set to print on 11-by-17-inch (tabloid) size paper at 100% to scale. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026

Earlier on Saturday, tabloid newspaper Kronen Zeitung said the man had been arrested in the state of Salzburg, which borders Germany. —Reuters, USA Today, 3 May 2026

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

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