Definition

Noun: A short promotional description or recommendation, typically found on the cover or dust jacket of a book, or used to advertise any product or creative work. Its purpose is to praise and attract potential buyers or readers.

Usage

A blurb is a brief, positive piece of writing used for promotion. It is most commonly associated with books, where it appears on the cover, back cover, or inside flap. It can also be used for movies, albums, or other products. The statement is often written by the publisher, author, or a notable person (like a fellow author or critic) to endorse the work.

Examples

• The book's blurb on the back cover made the novel sound incredibly exciting.
• Publishers often ask famous authors to write a blurb for a new writer's first book.
• The blurb on the DVD case highlighted the film's award-winning director.

Advanced Usage

• To blurb (verb, informal): The act of writing or providing a blurb.
  • Several celebrities were asked to blurb the new memoir.
• Blurbing (gerund/noun): The practice or process of writing blurbs.
  • The blurbing process is an important part of modern book marketing.

Variants and Related Words

• Blurbist (noun, rare): A person who frequently writes blurbs.

Synonyms

• Endorsement
• Recommendation
• Praise
• Plug (informal)
• Tagline (specifically for movies or shows)

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Cover blurb: Specifically refers to the blurb printed on a book's cover.
  • The catchy cover blurb was the reason I bought the book.

Noun

1. a promotional statement (as found on the dust jackets of books)
   • the author got all his friends to write blurbs for his book