What does pasteboard mean?
Pasteboard is a stiff sheet made from layers of paper that have been pasted together. Historically, it served as a writing surface, particularly in the form of a board covered with paper, and it has also been used for mounting pictures, making boxes, and creating lightweight craft objects. Today, the word is comparatively uncommon: people usually say “cardboard” or “paperboard” for familiar modern materials. Nevertheless, pasteboard remains useful when a more specific description is wanted, especially for a smooth, rigid sheet made from layered paper. Its slightly formal and historical tone can also lend a sense of craftsmanship or antiquity. In modern English, it is not normally a general term for every kind of cardboard, particularly corrugated packaging.
nounA thin, stiff board made from layers of paper or cardboard and used for writing, drawing, mounting, or making objects. In modern usage, the word is also a somewhat old-fashioned term for cardboard or a stiff paperboard.
- A stiff, flat board made from layers of paper pasted together.
- A sheet of cardboard or thick paperboard used for writing, drawing, mounting, or constructing lightweight objects.
- In historical usage, a writing tablet or writing board covered with paper.
"The designer pasted the lettering onto a sheet of pasteboard and mounted it inside the cover."
"She cut the pattern from pasteboard before tracing it onto fabric."
"The museum carefully lifted the old photograph from its pasteboard backing."
Used for individual boards or separate pasteboard objects; the plural is uncommon.
"The old shop window displayed several pasteboards advertising the coming exhibition."
Before plastic became ubiquitous, “pasteboard” was the everyday term for sturdy cardboard, and it could even mean a writing tablet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pasteboard come from?
Pasteboard is a compound of “paste” and “board,” referring to a board formed by pasting together layers of paper. The word developed during the 19th century in contexts involving writing surfaces, bookbinding, and the manufacture of stiff paper sheets. It later broadened in use to refer to cardboard-like material and objects made from it. The older sense of a writing tablet or book cover reflects the word’s association with a prepared surface for writing.
Related word forms
How pasteboard is actually used
The word is formal, dated, and uncommon in everyday modern English. “Cardboard” is normally more natural for material used to make boxes, while “pasteboard” can suggest a deliberately smooth, dense, or finely made board.
Easily confused with pasteboard
Pasteboard is a stiff board made from pasted layers of paper, while cardboard is the general term for paper-based sheet material, including corrugated and solid varieties.