A paperclip is a small piece of bent wire designed to hold sheets of paper together. The classic design loops back on itself to create two parallel lengths of wire that grip papers between them through tension and friction, without puncturing or damaging the pages the way a staple does.

The modern paperclip was invented in the late 1800s, though people argue about who deserves credit. Before paperclips, people used straight pins, ribbons, or wax seals to fasten documents together. The paperclip's brilliant simplicity made it instantly popular: it's reusable, inexpensive, and works reliably without any moving parts.

Paperclips become especially useful when you need to attach documents temporarily, like clipping a permission slip to a homework assignment or keeping your book report pages in order. Teachers often keep a small container of paperclips on their desks because students constantly need them.

The word can also be a verb: you might paperclip several drawings together before turning them in. People have found creative uses beyond organizing papers too, from makeshift bookmarks to emergency zipper pulls. Just remember that bending a paperclip back and forth too many times will eventually snap the wire.