Standard Lemma guide

hardback

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈhɑɹdˌbæk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: HH AA1 R D B AE2 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a solid binding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A book with a solid binding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

having a hard back or cover

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • hardback books

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hardbacked, hardbound, hardcover

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a book with cardboard or cloth or leather covers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hardcover

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: book, volume

History

Etymology

From hard + back, formed in analogy to earlier paperback.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: relié — having a solid binding
  • Spanish: de / tipo / con cartoné — having a solid binding
  • Swedish: inbunden — having a solid binding
  • French: livre relié — a book with a solid binding
  • Interlingua: coperculo dur — a book with a solid binding
  • Portuguese: livro de capa dura — a book with a solid binding
  • Scottish Gaelic: còmhdach cruaidh — a book with a solid binding
  • Spanish: tapa dura — a book with a solid binding
  • Spanish: cartoné — a book with a solid binding
  • Swedish: inbunden bok — a book with a solid binding
Real reading context

hardback in complete knowledge articles