papier-mâché

1 of 2

noun

pa·​pier-mâ·​ché ˌpā-pər-mə-ˈshā How to pronounce papier-mâché (audio)
ˌpa-ˌpyā-mə-,
-(ˌ)ma-
: a light strong molding material of wastepaper pulped with glue and other additives

papier-mâché

2 of 2

adjective

1
: formed of papier-mâché
2

Examples of papier-mâché in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Attach ribbons to papier-mache gourds with hot-glue and suspend from a chandelier. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
Adjective
In other cities, activists held flash mobs, created street murals and a papier-mache orca, cut up credit cards, sang, marched and danced. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023 In the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel, a swanky and exotic celebrity haunt, among papier-mache palm trees and monkey motifs. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023 Look for Roxanne Swentzell’s 11-foot-tall sculpture of clay and plant fiber, Mud Woman Rolls On and life-size papier-mache figures by masters of the Mexican cartonería tradition. Robin Soslow, Chron, 26 Feb. 2023 And don’t miss the bonecos, giant papier-mache puppets, in Olinda. Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'papier-mâché.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, literally, chewed paper

First Known Use

Noun

1753, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of papier-mâché was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near papier-mâché

Cite this Entry

“Papier-mâché.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papier-m%C3%A2ch%C3%A9. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

papier-mâché

noun
pa·​pier-mâ·​ché
ˌpā-pər-mə-ˈshā,
ˌpap-ˌyā-mə-;
-(ˌ)ma-
: a light strong molding material made of paper pulp mixed with glue and other substances
papier-mâché adjective
Etymology

Noun

French, literally, "chewed paper"

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