wallpaper

wallpaper — noun

1. thick decorative paper printed with colours or patterns, intended for covering i

1.nounB1
Definition

thick decorative paper printed with colours or patterns, intended for covering interior walls and ceilings.

Example

Meera chose a blue floral wallpaper for her bedroom to match the curtains.

collocation: floral wallpaper / patterned wallpaper

The old wallpaper in the hallway was peeling off, so Wei decided to replace it.

Common collocations
  • put up wallpaper
  • strip off wallpaper
  • peeling wallpaper
  • floral wallpaper
  • striped wallpaper
  • floral wallpaper
Synonyms
  • wall covering

    a broader term that includes wallpaper, fabric, vinyl, and other materials used on interior walls

  • paper

    informal shortening, used mainly in casual speech ('ready to put the paper up')

Antonyms
  • paint

    a liquid coating applied with a brush or roller, not paper sheets

Usage Note

Wallpaper is most often uncountable: 'We bought some wallpaper.' When referring to individual types, it can be countable: 'There are many beautiful wallpapers to choose from.'

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a wallpaper for my room.
I need to buy wallpaper for my room.
Wallpaper is uncountable in this sense; do not use 'a' unless naming a specific type.

2. a picture, design, or pattern displayed as the background on a computer, phone,

2.nounB1
Definition

a picture, design, or pattern displayed as the background on a computer, phone, or similar screen, covering part or all of the display area.

Example

Lukas set a photo of the mountains as the wallpaper on his laptop.

collocation: set/change [something] as wallpaper

Defne changes her phone wallpaper every week to match her mood.

Common collocations
  • phone wallpaper
  • desktop wallpaper
  • set as wallpaper
  • live wallpaper
  • change wallpaper
Synonyms
  • background

    a more general term; wallpaper specifically suggests a decorative or photographic image

  • desktop

    short for desktop background, common in computing contexts ('set a new desktop')

Usage Note

Unlike the wall-covering sense, this meaning is regularly used as both countable and uncountable: 'I found a nice wallpaper online' or 'I downloaded several new wallpapers.'

Common Mistakes

I downloaded a new background wallpaper.
I downloaded new wallpaper.
Using 'background' and 'wallpaper' together is redundant for digital images; just say 'wallpaper'.

wallpaper — verb

Word family

  • wallpapered
    adjectiveB2
  • wallpapering
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Wallpaper, wall covering, paint, and tile are all used to finish interior walls, but they differ in form and purpose. Wallpaper refers specifically to printed paper sheets attached with adhesive, chosen for decorative patterns or textures. Wall covering is a broader term that includes wallpaper as well as vinyl, fabric, and other materials — use it when describing the category rather than the specific product. Paint is a liquid coating applied with a brush or roller; it is generally cheaper and easier to change than wallpaper and produces a solid colour or gradient rather than a repeating pattern. Tile consists of hard pieces made of ceramic, stone, or glass, typically used in bathrooms and kitchens for water resistance. Choose wallpaper when you want a printed design across the whole wall; choose paint for a flat, uniform finish or a budget-friendly update; choose tile where moisture resistance or easy cleaning is important.

wallpaper ↗wall coveringpaint ↗tile ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • wallpaper design
  • wallpaper pattern
  • wallpaper collection
  • wallpaper sample

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinFrenchEnglish

Wallpaper entered English in the mid-1500s as a compound of 'wall' (from Old English 'weall', borrowed from Latin 'vallum' meaning a rampart or defensive wall) and 'paper' (from Latin 'papyrus', via Old French 'papier'). The earliest wallpapers were hand-painted or block-printed sheets pasted onto walls as a cheaper alternative to woven tapestry. The digital meaning — a background image on a computer screen — emerged in the 1980s alongside graphical user interfaces such as the early Macintosh operating system.