Definition

A small, heavy object that is used to keep papers from blowing away or getting scattered.

Example

She placed a beautiful glass paperweight on her desk to keep her documents in place.

Conversation

I just bought this cool paperweight for my desk.

Oh, that's nice! What does it look like?

It's a little globe, and it really helps keep my papers in place.

Sounds perfect! I need one of those too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Paperweight → It is formed from "paper" (from Old French *papier*, meaning material made from pressed fibers) and "weight" (from Old English *wēght*, meaning heaviness or mass). A paperweight is an object used to hold down paper, providing weight to prevent it from blowing away.

Memory Tip

Think of 'paper' as the material being held down and 'weight' as the heaviness that keeps it in place. A paperweight is something that provides weight to keep paper from moving.

Visually Confused Words