Brochure: Definition, Usage & Key Differences

Meaning 1：informational booklet (brochure)

brochure 🔊

/ˈbrəʊ.ʃər/

A small, colourful, folded paper booklet with pictures and text, used to introduce a place, service, or product and make it attractive to people.

Brochure definition illustrated by a person holding an open travel brochure on a table.

informational booklet 🔊

➕

/ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən.əl ˈbʊk.lɪt/

A small, folded booklet, often colorful and containing pictures and descriptive text, designed to provide information and promote a product, service, or destination.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From French 'brocher', meaning 'to stitch', referring to a stitched booklet.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a BRO-chure as a BRO-chure you pick up from a travel BRO-ker to plan a trip.

📖 Example

I picked up a brochure at the hotel reception that had beautiful pictures of all the local attractions. 🔊 A small promotional booklet about local sights was available at the hotel front desk.

🔗 Collocations

travel brochure – a booklet providing details about holiday destinations and tours

product brochure – a publication detailing the features and specifications of a product

information brochure – a pamphlet containing explanatory details on a specific subject

🔄 Synonyms

pamphlet (n.) – a small, unbound booklet, often on a single subject, sometimes controversial or political

leaflet (n.) – a single sheet of paper, often folded, containing information or advertising

booklet (n.) – a small, thin book with a paper cover, often providing information or instructions

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'brochure' comes from the French verb 'brocher', which means 'to stitch'. It originally referred to a pamphlet or small book whose pages were stitched together (broché). This evolved to describe the modern, folded informational booklets we see in tourism and marketing today, though they are now more commonly glued or folded than sewn.