Meaning & use
flyleaves
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“flyleaves” is a form of “flyleaf”.
Meaning
nounplural
the blank pages at the very beginning or end of a book, before the title page or after the last page.
Grammar: This is the plural form; use 'flyleaf' for one page. It is a countable noun, so you can say 'a flyleaf' or 'two flyleaves'.
Patterns
- the flyleaves of a book
- front flyleaves
- back flyleaves
She wrote her name on the flyleaves of the old book.
The flyleaves were torn, but the text was complete.
Collectors check the flyleaves for notes or signatures.
Word forms
| singular | flyleaf |
|---|---|
| plural | flyleaves |
| plural (less common) | flyleafs |
Common combinations
- front flyleaves
- The front flyleaves often contain a map or a list of the author's other books.
- back flyleaves
- He scribbled notes on the back flyleaves while reading.
- sign the flyleaves
- The author agreed to sign the flyleaves of fifty copies.
- torn flyleaves
- The librarian repaired the torn flyleaves with special tape.
Synonyms and how they differ
- endpapers
- Endpapers are the folded, often decorated sheets glued to the inside cover; flyleaves are the loose blank pages next to them.
- endleaf
- Endleaf is a less common word for a blank leaf at the start or end of a book, similar to flyleaf.
Word family
- flyleaf noun
- the singular form: one blank page at the front or back of a book.
Commonly confused: flyleaves or flypaper?
flyleaves vs flypaper
Flypaper is sticky paper used to catch flies; flyleaves are pages in a book. They share the 'fly' part but are unrelated.
Practice
Where would you usually find flyleaves?
Choose one answer.
Flyleaves are the blank pages at the beginning or end of a book. The other options are places where you would not find book pages.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “flyleaves”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.