textbook

1 of 2

noun

text·​book ˈteks(t)-ˌbu̇k How to pronounce textbook (audio)
: a book used in the study of a subject: such as
a
: one containing a presentation of the principles of a subject
b
: a literary work relevant to the study of a subject

textbook

2 of 2

adjective

: of, suggesting, or suitable to a textbook
especially : classic
a textbook example of bureaucratic waste

Examples of textbook in a Sentence

Noun one shelf in my bookcase is crammed full of my old college textbooks Adjective a textbook example of a film that captures the feel of the novel on which it is based
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This pompous behavior is a textbook trait of NPD.1 6. Catherine Dibenedetto, Health, 19 Mar. 2024 Related article The Maine gunman was a ‘textbook case’ for a state law designed to remove firearms from people like him. Emma Tucker, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Your situation is a textbook example of how discriminatory pay gaps operate. Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 The declaration would shape terminology in textbooks, research articles and museums worldwide. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Forward Jordyn Huitema uncorked a textbook header off a cross from Ashley Lawrence that knotted things in the 82nd minute. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 On the walls, posters for magic shows and educational fliers that an Indian student would recognize from a textbook—guides to types of rocks and seed germination—hang in cherry red frames. Vrinda Jagota, SPIN, 7 Mar. 2024 Weather balloon data from Dulles International Airport on Sunday morning presented a textbook setup for these clouds. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Isn’t that the textbook description of a successful quarterback? Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
Adjective
But for some of these patients, the cause of their seemingly textbook mental issues isn’t from an anomaly of brain chemistry or function, but from Lyme disease – the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2022 Guyton, the second Black woman to host A Capitol Fourth after Vanessa Williams, recognizes that her own swift and dramatic rise to stardom after years of dues-paying and nearly quitting performing entirely is a textbook American success story. Scott Huver, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 At the same time, solutions borrowed from textbook European nation-states are unlikely to serve us well. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 22 Sep. 2021 The vegan ramen was originally developed for Afuri’s Portland, Ore., location with the goal of being a lighter, decidedly non-textbook option. Flora Tsapovsky, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Sep. 2021 When she was discovered, her gender identity was conflated with her identity as a criminal, which is totally textbook. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 Aug. 2021 Having a bunch of Boomers in a closed environment for long periods of time isn’t exactly textbook social distancing. Chuck Carlton, Dallas News, 15 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'textbook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1779, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of textbook was in 1779

Dictionary Entries Near textbook

Cite this Entry

“Textbook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/textbook. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

textbook

noun
text·​book
ˈteks(t)-ˌbu̇k
: a book used in the study of a subject

More from Merriam-Webster on textbook

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