Paper is a word with several meanings. It can referto point to or mean something specific to the material used for writing and printing, a newspaper, a school assignment or academicrelated to study at a college or university article, or the act of coveringputting a layer over something something with paper. The most common everyday meaning is the material itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpeɪpər/
Easy pronunciation: PAY-per (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Primary sense: the material used for writing, printing, or wrapping; noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Paper Meaning
thin material used for writing, printing, or wrapping
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a material made from cellulose pulp, usually from wood, rags, or plant fibers, used for writing, printing, wrapping, and other purposes
Example: She wrote the note on a piece of paper.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Paper
Meaning 2
a newspaper
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets that contains news, articles, and advertisements
Example: He read the paper at breakfast.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- newspaper — Direct synonym for this publication sense.
Meaning 3
a newspaper company
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a business firm that publishes newspapers
Example: The paper owns several local news websites.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- newspaper publisher — Fits the publishing-company sense.
Meaning 4
a school essay or written assignment
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an essay, especially one written as a school assignment
Example: I have to finish my history paper tonight.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- composition — Works as a formal synonym for this writing assignment sense.
- report — Can fit some assignment contexts, but is narrower than paper.
- theme — Used in some school contexts, though less common today.
Meaning 5
an academic article
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a scholarly article describing research, observations, or hypotheses
Example: The journal published three new papers on climate change.
Meaning 6
to put paper over something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to cover something with paper
Example: They papered the walls of the hallway.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- wallpaper — Related to this verb sense, but it usually means cover walls specifically.
Meaning 7
to put wallpaper on a wall
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to cover with wallpaper
Example: They papered the spare room last weekend.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- wallpaper — Direct match for this verb sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Paper Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- newspaper
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets that contains news and articles
- newspaper
a business firm that publishes newspapers
- newspaper publisher
an essay, especially one written as a school assignment
- composition
- report
- theme
to cover something with paper
- wallpaper
to cover with wallpaper
- wallpaper
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using paper to mean newspaper in every context.
- Confusing paper as the material with paper as a school essay or academic article.
- Treating wallpaper as a general synonym for paper.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of paper?
The most common everyday meaning is the thin material used for writing, printing, wrapping, and similar purposes.
Is paper the same as newspaper?
No. Newspaper is one specific meaning of paper, but paper can also mean the material, a school assignment, or an academic article.
Can paper mean an essay?
Yes. In school contexts, a paper can mean an essay or written assignment.
What is the verb form of paper?
As a verb, paper can mean to cover something with paper or wallpaper.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.