blue book: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Professional, Academic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “blue book” mean?
A published listing of price valuations, especially for used cars, published by Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A published listing of price valuations, especially for used cars, published by Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
An official booklet used for written examinations in universities; a government publication or official report (historical/formal).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In AmE, overwhelmingly associated with used car pricing guides. In BrE, more likely recognised as a type of university exam booklet. The 'government report' sense is largely historical.
Connotations
AmE: Commercial, practical, consumer-oriented. BrE: Academic, formal, institutional.
Frequency
High frequency in AmE in automotive/commercial contexts. Low-moderate frequency in BrE, mostly in academic settings.
Grammar
How to Use “blue book” in a Sentence
check + [blue book] + for + [price/value][price/value] + according to + [the blue book]take + [an exam] + in a blue bookVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue book” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A for this compound noun
American English
- N/A for this compound noun
adverb
British English
- N/A for this compound noun
American English
- N/A for this compound noun
adjective
British English
- N/A for this compound noun
American English
- N/A for this compound noun
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The dealer used the blue book to justify the trade-in offer.
Academic
The final exam must be completed in a blue book provided by the department.
Everyday
I checked the blue book online before selling my old car.
Technical
The NADA guide is a competitor to the Kelley Blue Book in vehicle valuation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue book”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue book”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue book”
- Using 'blue book' to mean any blue-coloured book.
- Assuming the academic and automotive meanings are related.
- Capitalisation errors: It's 'Kelley Blue Book' (trademark) but often lower-cased generically as 'blue book'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring specifically to the 'Kelley Blue Book' trademark, it is capitalized. When used generically (e.g., 'check the blue book'), it is often lowercased.
The term originates from the traditional blue covers of these standardized booklets used for written examinations at many universities.
Primarily for cars, trucks, and motorcycles, but KBB also provides values for recreational vehicles (RVs) and snowmobiles.
Yes, but this is a largely historical or formal usage, e.g., 'The government published a blue book on foreign policy.' This sense is uncommon in everyday modern English.
A published listing of price valuations, especially for used cars, published by Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
Blue book is usually professional, academic, formal in register.
Blue book: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbluː ˈbʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblu ˈbʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not in the blue book (meaning: it's not officially recognised/valued).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BLUE car's price written in a BOOK.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE IS A BOOK (The blue book is the 'bible' for car prices).
Practice
Quiz
In a British university context, a 'blue book' is most likely to be: