A leaflet is a small, printed piece of paper that gives information or tries to persuade you of something. You might find a leaflet stuck under your car's windshield wiper advertising a new restaurant, or pick one up at the library about upcoming summer programs. Political candidates distribute leaflets explaining why people should vote for them. Museums hand out leaflets describing their exhibits.

Leaflets are usually just one sheet of paper, often folded in half or thirds to fit easily in your pocket or bag. They're designed to be read quickly, which is why they typically use big headlines, short paragraphs, and eye-catching images. A leaflet is smaller and simpler than a brochure, which is usually fancier and contains more detailed information.

The word also has a botanical meaning: a leaflet is one of the small leaf-like parts that together make up a larger compound leaf. If you look at a plant like clover or mimosa, what might look like separate leaves are actually leaflets, all attached to one stem.