paperback

The term "paperback" refers to a book bound in a flexible paper or thin card cover rather than a hard cover. That difference affects the price, weight, and feel of the book. These editions became popular because they offered a more affordable and practical choice than many hardbound books, making reading easier to access for more people.

There are different kinds of paperbacks. A "mass-market paperback" is usually small, cheap, and made for easy carrying, the kind often seen in airports, train stations, or supermarkets. A "trade paperback" is usually larger and made with better paper and a sturdier cover. It often looks closer to a hardcover in size, but it still costs less and feels more flexible in your hands.

The word can refer both to the physical type of book and to a particular edition of a title. A novel may first be sold in hardcover and later be released in paperback for a wider group of readers. Some books, however, are published directly in this format. In everyday use, the term suggests something readable, practical, and familiar: a book you can slip into a bag, bend back a little while reading, and return to again and again.