guidebook
GYDE-buuk
/ˈɡaɪdbʊk/
A book of information about a place, designed for the use of visitors or tourists.
Typically contains practical details like maps, historical context, hotel reviews, and recommended sights.
The story behind the word. A straightforward English compound of 'guide' (from Old French 'guider,' to lead) and 'book.' The modern guidebook emerged in the 1830s with John Murray's 'Handbooks for Travellers' and Karl Baedeker's detailed guides, which introduced star ratings.
Word relationships
- handbook: A handbook is a generic manual of instructions or facts, whereas a guidebook is specifically tailored for geographic exploration and tourism.
Commonly confused with
- atlas: An atlas is strictly a bound collection of maps, while a guidebook contains descriptive text, history, and reviews.
Word family
- guidebooks (noun): Plural form of guidebook.
Collocations
- travel guidebook
- consult a guidebook
- official guidebook
- guidebook recommendation
Example sentences
- "We consulted our guidebook to find the best local restaurants and historical sites in Rome." Using a travel guide
Memory hook
A book that guides you through a new city. A local expert in your pocket.
When not to use
Do not use for general novels, academic history textbooks, or simple maps that lack descriptive text.
Fun facts
- Karl Baedeker, the famous 19th-century guidebook publisher, was so obsessed with accuracy that he would secretly count the steps of cathedral staircases, keeping dried peas in his pocket to keep track.
Explore more words
concierge, archive, navigate, dictionary, pilgrimage, monograph
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