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Definition of bibliophile

bibliophile

/ˈbɪb.li.əˌfaɪl/
bib · li · o · phile
Plural:bibliophiles
•
Adjective:bibliophilic
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bibliophile Lexical Profile

bibliophile Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who collects or has a great love of books, often appreciating them for their literary content as well as their physical craftsmanship, rarity, or history.

Example

"As a lifelong bibliophile, she spent every Saturday afternoon browsing the dusty shelves of antiquarian bookstores."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bibliophile
Antonyms
View all antonyms for bibliophile

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'bookworm' simply refers to an avid reader, 'bibliophile' often implies an appreciation for the physical qualities, history, or collection of books, and should not be confused with 'bibliomaniac,' which denotes an obsessive or pathological hoarder of books.

• Nearby Words

bibliographic
bibliographical
bibliography
bibliophile
bibrons stiletto snake
bicameral
bicarb

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 19th century from French 'bibliophile', formed from Ancient Greek 'biblion' (book) and 'philos' (loving or dear).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bibliophile. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bibliophile
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