Meaning & use
ration book
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Meanings
nouncountable
A small official book of coupons that allows someone to buy limited amounts of food or goods during a shortage.
Grammar: Countable: one ration book, two ration books. Often used with the definite article in historical contexts: during the war, the ration book was essential.
Patterns
- a ration book for something
- use a ration book
- hand in a ration book
During the war, every family received a ration book for sugar, meat, and butter.
She kept her grandmother's old ration book as a family souvenir.
Without a ration book, you couldn't buy extra eggs or milk.
nouncountablefigurative
A similar official document or digital record that controls access to scarce supplies in a modern crisis.
Grammar: Countable; used for modern systems too, though often in journalism or reports: a digital ration book.
Patterns
- a digital ration book
- introduce a ration book
The government discussed a digital ration book to manage fuel supplies.
In the drought, farmers were given a ration book for water.
Word forms
| plural | ration books |
|---|
Common combinations
- wartime ration book
- The museum display includes a wartime ration book and old coins.
- ration book coupon
- Each ration book coupon could be exchanged for a small amount of coffee.
- issue a ration book
- The authorities issued a ration book to every household.
- ration book holder
- Ration book holders had to register at their local shop.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ration card
- Ration card is a more general term for any card used to get limited goods; ration book usually means a booklet with multiple coupons.
- coupon book
- Coupon book is broader and can be for discounts, not government-controlled shortages.
Word family
Commonly confused: ration book or ration card?
ration book vs ration card
A ration card is often a single card, while a ration book is a booklet of coupons. In everyday speech, people sometimes use them interchangeably.
Practice
What was a ration book used for?
Choose one answer.
A ration book contained coupons that allowed people to buy controlled amounts of goods, especially during wartime. The other options describe school, library, or property documents, not rationing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ration book”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.