Meaning & use
Rolodex
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletrademark
A rotating desktop file that holds cards with names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or 'the': a Rolodex on the desk.
Patterns
- a Rolodex
- on a Rolodex
She flipped through the Rolodex to find his number.
The office still keeps a Rolodex for old contacts.
nouncountableinformalfigurative
A person's network of professional contacts.
Grammar: Informal and often used figuratively: a big Rolodex means many contacts.
Patterns
- a big Rolodex
- someone's Rolodex
The lobbyist has a huge Rolodex of politicians.
Building a Rolodex is important in sales.
Word forms
| plural | Rolodexes |
|---|
Common combinations
- flip through a Rolodex
- He flipped through the Rolodex looking for the client's number.
- a Rolodex of contacts
- She has a Rolodex of contacts in the industry.
- build a Rolodex
- Young lawyers need to build a Rolodex early in their careers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- card file
- A general term for a system of cards; Rolodex is a specific brand name.
- contact list
- More common today for a list of names and numbers, especially digital; Rolodex often implies the physical object or a figurative network.
Commonly confused: Rolodex or rolodex?
Rolodex vs rolodex
Some people write it in lowercase, but as a trademark it is usually capitalized.
Practice
What does 'Rolodex' most commonly refer to in a business context today?
Choose one answer.
In modern business usage, 'Rolodex' often figuratively means a person's network of contacts. Option 1 is the original physical object, but the figurative sense is more common now. Options 0 and 3 are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Rolodex”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.