What does newsstand mean?
A newsstand is a small outdoor stand or kiosk where newspapers, magazines, and sometimes other periodicals are sold. It is commonly found on city streets, near railway stations, and in other busy public places, providing a convenient way to buy current publications without entering a larger shop. The term is especially frequent in American English, while British speakers often say news stall or newspaper stall. A newsstand can also serve as a small neighbourhood landmark, and the phrase has occasionally been used more broadly for kiosks offering news or information services. Its familiar association with headlines, commuters, and street-corner culture makes it a useful word for describing the everyday public spaces where people encounter current events.
nounA small stand or kiosk, usually located on a street or in a public place, where newspapers and magazines are sold. In British English, a newsstand is also called a news stall.
- A small stand or kiosk where newspapers and magazines are sold.
"She bought the morning paper from a newsstand near the station."
"There was a queue outside the newsstand when the football match ended."
"The city council approved plans to replace several street newsstands with digital information kiosks."
The plural is formed by adding -s to newsstand.
"The newsstands along the avenue were open late after the evening event."
A newsstand turns a busy sidewalk into a tiny reading room in which the latest headlines are available at arm's reach.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does newsstand come from?
Newsstand is a compound formed in the nineteenth century from news and stand. The word news originally referred to new or noteworthy information and developed through the spread of printed newspapers; it ultimately derives from the adjective new, which comes from Old English nēowe and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *nauwjaz. Stand is an English word with Germanic and Old English roots, so the compound combines an English lexical element with a noun denoting a fixed place or structure from which something is sold.
How newsstand is actually used
The word is especially common in American English. In British English, news stall and newspaper stall are often more usual, although newsstand is also understood.
Easily confused with newsstand
A newsstand is a stand or small booth for selling newspapers and magazines, while a news kiosk is a more general term that may also be used for other types of information or service kiosks.