cardboard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, business, and technical contexts related to packaging, shipping, and crafts.
Quick answer
What does “cardboard” mean?
A stiff, thick material made from compressed paper pulp, used for making boxes, packaging, and other lightweight structures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A stiff, thick material made from compressed paper pulp, used for making boxes, packaging, and other lightweight structures.
1) Figuratively, something that lacks substance, depth, or authenticity (e.g., a cardboard character). 2) Used as an adjective to describe something made of or resembling this material in thinness or flimsiness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both use 'cardboard box' as the standard term.
Connotations
The figurative use ('cardboard villain', 'cardboard dialogue') is equally common in literary and media criticism in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in the compound 'cardboard cut-out' (figurative for a lifeless person).
Grammar
How to Use “cardboard” in a Sentence
[V] + cardboard: make from cardboard, recycle cardboard, cut cardboard[Adj] + cardboard: corrugated cardboard, thick cardboardVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cardboard” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- We built a cardboard fort for the children.
- The props looked cheap and cardboard in the dim light.
American English
- She made a cardboard display for the science fair.
- His apology felt cardboard and insincere.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Essential in logistics, shipping, and packaging industries. E.g., 'All items are shipped in recyclable cardboard.'
Academic
Used in design, engineering (prototyping), and environmental studies (waste streams).
Everyday
Very common for boxes, children's crafts, and temporary storage solutions.
Technical
Specific grades like 'corrugated fiberboard' or 'kraft cardboard' are used in manufacturing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cardboard”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cardboard”
- Using 'carton' for the material itself (a carton is a container *made of* cardboard).
- Treating as a countable noun (*a cardboard*). Correct: 'a piece of cardboard'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'a piece of cardboard', 'some cardboard', or 'three sheets of cardboard'.
'Cardboard' is the material. A 'carton' is a container made from that material (e.g., a milk carton, a carton of eggs).
Yes, to describe something (often a person, character, or performance) that seems flat, shallow, artificial, or lacking in depth.
Yes, most clean cardboard is widely recycled. It should be dry and free from excessive tape or plastic liners.
A stiff, thick material made from compressed paper pulp, used for making boxes, packaging, and other lightweight structures.
Cardboard is usually neutral. common in everyday, business, and technical contexts related to packaging, shipping, and crafts. in register.
Cardboard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːd.bɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːrd.bɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cardboard city (area where homeless people sleep in cardboard shelters)”
- “A cardboard cut-out (a person or character lacking depth or individuality)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CARD (like a postcard) that is too hard and BOARD-like. It's a stiff board made for cards/boxes.
Conceptual Metaphor
CARDBOARD IS LACK OF SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'a cardboard performance' = flat, unconvincing).
Practice
Quiz
In a literary review, what does describing a character as 'cardboard' most likely imply?