Skip to main content
paperclip

paperclip

6 1.0
A small bent piece of wire or plastic that holds sheets of paper together
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪpərˌklɪp/
: clip
  • She used a paperclip to hold the documents together neatly.

Examples

  • There wasn't a jam I couldn't get out of with a little ingenuity and a paperclip.

  • C is for collecting loose paperclips and making metal animals.

    Blog text (14)
  • Oh, you should see what I can do with a paperclip.

  • We got some paperclips from there, thinking they might be useful for the door.

    Blog text (5)
  • I made a necklace of paperclips as I watched.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • We need that paperclip!

  • I presented my necklace of paperclips to her, but was not surprised that she was more perplexed than delighted.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • 200 manila envelopes, 400 paperclips, five boxes of correction fluid...

  • I found an unopened box of paperclips circa 1950 that could be displayed in a living-history museum.

    Blog text (21)
  • We moved the supplies (glue sticks, scissors, and paperclips) to a workshop-style environment.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

clip
vspaperclip
108 1.3

A small device that holds things together, like papers or hair

is limited to the small bent wire or plastic used for sheets
paper clip
vspaperclip
34 1.0

A small bent piece of wire or plastic that holds sheets of paper together

has identical meaning but is written as one word
bulldog clip
vspaperclip
1 2.9

A strong metal holder with a spring and flat ends for keeping papers together

is a simple bent wire or plastic fastener rather than a heavy spring one
paper fastener
vspaperclip
1 2.4

A small object that holds sheets of paper together, like a clip

is the narrow bent wire or plastic form rather than any device
gem clip
vspaperclip
  • UK
1 3.2

A small metal or plastic piece that keeps sheets of paper together

is the general bent fastener type covering this specific form

How Secure

binder
47 2.3
staple
31 1.0
rubber band
47 1.1
paperclip
6 1.0

Surface Forms

paperclip singular
paperclips plural

Morphology

paperclip = paper + clip (transparent) = paper + clip

The meaning is directly the combination of 'paper' + 'clip' — a clip for holding paper; easily inferred by learners.

Etymology

The word paperclip combines paper and clip, where clip means 'to fasten' or 'to hold together', so a paperclip is a small piece of bent wire or plastic that holds sheets of paper together.