Meanings
nounscratch paper (countable and uncountable, plural scratch papers)
plural scratch papers · alternative scratchpaper
- countableuncountablePaper used for preliminary work on a (for example mathematics) problem, considered ephemeral.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounpad for preliminary or hasty writing or notes or sketches etc.; ‘scribbling block’ is a British term
Similar
scratch padscribbling block
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 草稿紙 /草稿纸
- 草稿紙 /草稿纸 (cǎogǎozhǐ)paper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
German Schmierpapier
- Schmierpapierpaper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
Hungarian piszkozat
- piszkozatpaper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
Lithuanian júodraštis
- júodraštispaper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
Portuguese papel de rascunho
- papel de rascunhopaper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
Spanish papel borrador
- papel borradorpaper used for preliminary work, considered ephemeral
Cite this entry
APA
scratch paper. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20paper
MLA
“scratch paper.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20paper. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “scratch paper,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20paper.
Source: scratch paper on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.