What does audiobook mean?
An audiobook is a recording of a book or other text being read aloud, allowing listeners to experience a written work through audio rather than print. Audiobooks are typically produced with a single narrator, though some feature full casts, sound effects, or music. They are consumed on smartphones, dedicated players, or computers, often through streaming services or digital libraries, and have become especially popular for commutes, exercise, and multitasking. The word carries no particular formality or connotation beyond its practical meaning; it is standard across British and American English. The format traces its roots to recordings made for blind readers in the 1930s, but it entered everyday vocabulary only after portable audio and, later, digital downloads made listening convenient for the general public. Today the term is firmly established, covering everything from classic literature to self-help titles.
nounA recorded reading of a book or other text, made available as audio for listening rather than reading.
- A recorded spoken performance of a book, listened to on a device.
"She listened to the audiobook during her daily commute."
"He finished the novel as an audiobook on a long road trip."
"The library offers free audiobook downloads to members."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple recordings or the format generally, e.g. 'the rise of audiobooks'.
"Audiobooks now account for a large share of the publishing industry's revenue."
The first audiobooks were created in the 1930s for blind readers — decades before the Walkman made 'reading with your ears' mainstream.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of audiobook
The word 'audiobook' is a twentieth-century compound formed from 'audio', from Latin 'audire' meaning 'to hear', and 'book', from Old English 'bōc'. It emerged alongside the technology of recorded speech, gaining widespread use once cassette tapes and later digital formats brought spoken books to general audiences. Its Latin root also underlies related words such as 'audible' and 'audiophile'.
How audiobook is actually used
Neutral register; common in everyday and commercial contexts. The compound is typically written as one word, though 'audio book' appears occasionally.
Easily confused with audiobook
An audiobook is a recorded reading of a specific book, while a podcast is an episodic audio programme that may cover any topic.