Home › Media, Journalism & Publishing › Paparazzi & Invasion of Privacy › Tabloid

Tabloid

TAB-loyd /ˈtæblɔɪd/

nadjB2TOEFLIELTS

neutral

A newspaper having a compact format, typically concentrating on sensational crime stories, celebrity gossip, and other light features rather than in-depth news.

Can refer to the physical size of a newspaper (half broadsheet), but more commonly implies a journalistic style characterized by sensationalism, brevity, and a focus on entertainment over serious news.

The story behind the word. The word 'tabloid' originated in the late 19th century. It was initially a trademark name for a compressed medicinal tablet, implying something small and concentrated. By extension, it was applied to newspapers that condensed news into a smaller format, often with sensational content, contrasting with the larger 'broadsheet' newspapers. The '-oid' suffix means 'resembling' or 'like'.

Word relationships

rag: Informal, derogatory term for a newspaper, often implying low quality or sensationalism.
gossip sheet: Focuses specifically on the gossip content.
yellow press: Historical term for sensationalist journalism.

broadsheet: A large-format newspaper, typically associated with more serious news.
quality press: Newspapers known for in-depth, objective reporting.

Collocations

tabloid newspaper
tabloid journalism
tabloid headlines
tabloid fodder

Example sentences

"She rarely read the national broadsheets, preferring the quick reads and celebrity gossip found in the tabloid." Describing a type of newspaper.
"The scandal was plastered across every tabloid newspaper, with exaggerated headlines and blurry photos." Referring to a journalistic style.
"Many argue that the internet has only amplified the worst tendencies of tabloid journalism, with clickbait replacing print headlines." A general comment on media.

Memory hook

Think of a 'TABLET' (like an iPad) that gives you quick, 'TABLOID'-style news and gossip. TABLET for quick news

When not to use

Do not use 'tabloid' to describe a serious, in-depth newspaper, even if it has a compact format. The term carries a strong connotation of content style.

Fun facts

The term 'tabloid journalism' is often used pejoratively to describe any journalism that prioritizes sensationalism over factual reporting, regardless of the newspaper's physical size.
While traditionally referring to print newspapers, the term 'tabloid' is now also applied to online news sources that exhibit similar characteristics.