A brochure is a small booklet or folded piece of paper that gives information about something, usually with pictures and descriptions designed to make it appealing. When your family plans a vacation, you might pick up brochures at a visitor center showing local attractions, hotels, and restaurants. Museums hand out brochures that explain their exhibits. Doctors' offices have brochures describing different health topics. Schools create brochures to show prospective students what makes them special.

Today, most brochures are folded paper, often tri-fold (folded in thirds) so they fit neatly in your hand or a display rack.

Brochures differ from advertisements in an important way: while ads try to grab your attention quickly, brochures provide detailed information for people already interested in learning more. A theme park might advertise on TV to catch your eye, but its brochure tells you park hours, ticket prices, ride descriptions, and a map. When you're researching something, whether it's a summer camp, a new bike, or a national park, brochures help you gather the facts you need to make a good decision.