red-top: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, journalistic (UK context).
Quick answer
What does “red-top” mean?
A British tabloid newspaper, typically with a red masthead, known for sensationalist popular journalism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A British tabloid newspaper, typically with a red masthead, known for sensationalist popular journalism.
By metonymy, the style of journalism associated with such newspapers: sensational, celebrity-focused, and often intrusive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively a UK term. There is no direct American equivalent, though "tabloid" conveys a similar meaning regarding content style, but without the specific visual/connotative link to the red masthead.
Connotations
In the UK, carries strong connotations of sensationalism, populism, and sometimes lowbrow journalism. In the US, the term is not used and would likely be misunderstood.
Frequency
Common in UK media commentary and informal discussion of the press; rare to non-existent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “red-top” in a Sentence
The red-top [published/broke/splashed with] the story.A story typical of the red-tops.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red-top” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The story had a classic red-top angle.
- He moved from a broadsheet to a red-top paper.
American English
- [Not applicable in AmE]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in media industry analysis to discuss market segments, advertising revenue, and readership demographics.
Academic
Appears in media studies, sociology, and cultural criticism papers analysing the UK press.
Everyday
Used in general conversation when discussing news stories, media bias, or celebrity gossip.
Technical
Specific to journalism and media discourse; not a technical term in other fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red-top”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red-top”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red-top”
- Using it to refer to any newspaper with a red element (must be a specific UK tabloid style).
- Using it in an American context.
- Writing it as 'red top' without the hyphen when using it as a compound noun adjective (e.g., 'red-top editor' is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Guardian is a broadsheet/berliner-style newspaper considered part of the 'quality press'. Red-tops are populist tabloids like The Sun or the Daily Mirror.
No, it is a UK-specific media term. An American would likely say 'tabloid' (e.g., The New York Post) to convey a similar idea about content style, though not the specific masthead reference.
No, it refers to the format and journalistic style, not politics. Red-tops can have varying political alignments (e.g., The Sun typically supports the Conservative Party, while the Daily Mirror has historically supported Labour).
The most famous examples are The Sun, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star. The Daily Express and Daily Mail are sometimes considered 'mid-market' tabloids, not classic red-tops.
A British tabloid newspaper, typically with a red masthead, known for sensationalist popular journalism.
Red-top is usually informal, journalistic (uk context). in register.
Red-top: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛd tɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛd tɑːp/ (Note: This transcription is given as the term would be pronounced in AmE if used, but the term itself is not part of AmE vocabulary.). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not directly applicable; the term itself is a specific reference.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the TOP of the newspaper's front page is coloured RED. A RED TOP shouts for attention, just like its headlines.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWSPAPERS ARE PEOPLE (with a distinctive 'head'/'top'); SENSATIONALISM IS LOUD/BRIGHT (the bright red colour signals loud, attention-grabbing content).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'red-top' be correctly understood and used?